Dietary phytosterols increased the rate of weight gain, antioxidant capacity and growth of beneficial strains of bacteria in the gut and suppressed the population of potentially pathogenic bacteria in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
This study evaluated the effects of feed supplementation with plant sterols on growth, an-tioxidant capacity and gut microbiota of largemouth bass. The results revealed that (1) the ad-dition of 0.04 % phytosterol (PS) to the diet was found to significantly increase the weight gain rate and fattening rate of largemouth bass. (2) Weight gain and fattening rate of largemouth bass. Liver cells were more compact and vacuolisation was significantly reduced. (3) The width of the posterior intestinal folds and the thickness of the muscles were significantly increased. (4) Highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in serum. (5) The highest relative expression of the growth-promoting hypothalamic growth hormone (gh), pituitary Insulin-like growth factor (igf1ra, igf1rb, and igf2r) genes. (6) The intestinal flora had in-creased abundance of Firmicutes, Cetobacterium and decreased relative abundance of harmful bacteria such as Bacteroidota.