Article

Molecular Antioxidant Functions are Enhanced in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus, L.) Larvae Fed Selenium Enriched Rotifers Brachionus Rotundiformis

Details

Citation

Wischhusen P, Betancor MB, Sprague M, Ortega A, de la Gándara F, Tocher DR & Mourente G (2023) Molecular Antioxidant Functions are Enhanced in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus, L.) Larvae Fed Selenium Enriched Rotifers Brachionus Rotundiformis. Antioxidants, 12 (1), Art. No.: 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12010026

Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for fish with more than 40 selenoproteins identified, many exhibiting antioxidant functions. This study investigated the effect of dietary Se supplementation on physiological parameters, selenoprotein and antioxidant enzyme gene expression in Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT, Thunnus thynnus) larvae. First-feeding ABT larvae were divided into triplicate groups and fed rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis enriched with five different levels of Se (0, 3, 10, 30, and 100 µg Se·L−1) until 14 days after hatching. Both rotifers and ABT larvae effectively accumulated Se achieving maximum levels in the Se100 treatment (30.05 μg Se·g−1 and 194 ± 38 μg Se·g−1 dry mass, respectively). Larvae showed highest total length when fed Se3 rotifers, whereas flexion index was highest in larvae fed Se10. Selenium supplementation increased the gene expression of selenoproteins gpx1, msrb1, trxr2, selenom, selenop, and selenoe compared to the non-supplemented control (Se0), but only marginal differences were detected between supplementation levels. In contrast, expression of the antioxidant enzymes cat and sod1 were lowest in larvae fed Se100. To conclude, non-Se-enriched rotifers may be suboptimal for first feeding ABT larvae, which showed improved selenoprotein and antioxidant gene expression when fed a diet containing 4.42 μg Se·g−1 dry mass.

Keywords
bluefin tuna; larvae; Se yeast; rotifer enrichment; growth performance; gene expression; selenoprotein; antioxidant enzymes

Journal
Antioxidants: Volume 12, Issue 1

StatusPublished
FundersConsejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa de la Junta de Andalucía, Proyecto de Excelencia de Promoción General del Conocimiento and Programa Estatal de Investigación del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
Publication date31/01/2023
Publication date online23/12/2022
Date accepted by journal20/12/2022
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/34894
PublisherMDPI AG
eISSN2076-3921

People (2)

People

Dr Monica Betancor

Dr Monica Betancor

Associate Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

Dr Matthew Sprague

Dr Matthew Sprague

Lecturer in Nutrition, Institute of Aquaculture