title: Effects of fasting and refeeding on the digestive tract of zebrafish (Danio rerio) fed with Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), a high protein feed source.
abstract: In the present work, morphological and molecular effects of short-term feed deprivation and refeeding with Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) on zebrafish digestive tract were determined. Once elucidated the proximate composition of Spirulina feed, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses of peptide transporter (PepT1) and cholecystokinin (CCK8) were carried out in the gastrointestinal tract of zebrafish, previously morphologically investigated. Two and five fasting days caused not only morphostructural alterations, but also the downregulation of PepT1 and CCK8 proteins. Conversely, the recovery of normal morphological conditions, along with an increased PepT1 and CCK8 expression, were observed after refeeding with Spirulina. The increase of PepT1 expression in zebrafish may be responsible for the enhanced CCK8 secretion, so that both proteins may contribute to an improved digestion process during refeeding. These observations could be supported not only by compensatory mechanisms induced by fasting and refeeding but also by an higher protein quality of Spirulina-based diet.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lo Cascio
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertuccio
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paterniti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palombieri
authors.affiliation: b Department of Veterinary Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calò
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.|d Science4Life S.r.l. , An Academic Spin-Off of the University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Ambrogina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albergamo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.|d Science4Life S.r.l. , An Academic Spin-Off of the University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabriella Denaro
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005215:Fasting; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*; D000074011:Peptide Transporter 1; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012844:Sincalide / Q000378:metabolism; D053545:Spirulina / Q000378:metabolism*; D027981:Symporters / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D000074011:Peptide Transporter 1; D011506:Proteins; D027981:Symporters; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C000613207:slc15a1b protein, zebrafish; D012844:Sincalide
keywords: Arthrospira platensis; CCK8; PepT1; Spirulina; Western Blot; Zebrafish; digestive tract; immunohistochemistry; proximate composition