Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)

D-glucuronolactone (DGL), a hepatoprotective compound widely used in clinical and energy products, was evaluated for its effects on Chinese soft-shelled turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>) through an 8-week feeding trial with dietary supplementation (0, 200, and 400 mg kg<sup>−1&l...

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Main Authors: Tong Zhou, Wenyi Wu, Mingyang Xue, Yong Zhou, Hongwei Liang, Wei Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/5/534
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author Tong Zhou
Wenyi Wu
Mingyang Xue
Yong Zhou
Hongwei Liang
Wei Liu
author_facet Tong Zhou
Wenyi Wu
Mingyang Xue
Yong Zhou
Hongwei Liang
Wei Liu
author_sort Tong Zhou
collection DOAJ
description D-glucuronolactone (DGL), a hepatoprotective compound widely used in clinical and energy products, was evaluated for its effects on Chinese soft-shelled turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>) through an 8-week feeding trial with dietary supplementation (0, 200, and 400 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>). DGL did not alter survival or feed intake, but induced dose-dependent growth improvements, including increased final body weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and muscle/liver glycogen, alongside reduced feed conversion ratio and muscle and liver fat. Serum analysis showed decreased activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerols. Antioxidant indices revealed elevated catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in serum and intestine, coupled with reduced malondialdehyde, though hepatic SOD activity declined. Histologically, 400 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> DGL alleviated liver lesions without impacting intestinal morphology. Molecular analyses demonstrated upregulated muscle <i>mTOR</i> signaling genes (<i>mTOR</i>, <i>IGF1</i>, <i>S6K1</i>) but downregulated hepatic/intestinal <i>mTOR</i> and <i>IGF1</i> expression. DGL also suppressed inflammatory cytokines (<i>TNF-α</i>, <i>IL-1β</i>, <i>IL-10</i>) in liver and intestine. Challenge tests with <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> confirmed the enhanced disease resistance in DGL-supplemented turtles. These findings highlight DGL’s potential as a nutritional strategy to enhance growth, antioxidant capacity, and health in intensive turtle farming.
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spelling doaj-art-24b0682ef0fc49cf8e5422f7c2a04ed02025-08-20T03:14:29ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-04-0114553410.3390/antiox14050534Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)Tong Zhou0Wenyi Wu1Mingyang Xue2Yong Zhou3Hongwei Liang4Wei Liu5Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, ChinaD-glucuronolactone (DGL), a hepatoprotective compound widely used in clinical and energy products, was evaluated for its effects on Chinese soft-shelled turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>) through an 8-week feeding trial with dietary supplementation (0, 200, and 400 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>). DGL did not alter survival or feed intake, but induced dose-dependent growth improvements, including increased final body weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and muscle/liver glycogen, alongside reduced feed conversion ratio and muscle and liver fat. Serum analysis showed decreased activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerols. Antioxidant indices revealed elevated catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in serum and intestine, coupled with reduced malondialdehyde, though hepatic SOD activity declined. Histologically, 400 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> DGL alleviated liver lesions without impacting intestinal morphology. Molecular analyses demonstrated upregulated muscle <i>mTOR</i> signaling genes (<i>mTOR</i>, <i>IGF1</i>, <i>S6K1</i>) but downregulated hepatic/intestinal <i>mTOR</i> and <i>IGF1</i> expression. DGL also suppressed inflammatory cytokines (<i>TNF-α</i>, <i>IL-1β</i>, <i>IL-10</i>) in liver and intestine. Challenge tests with <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> confirmed the enhanced disease resistance in DGL-supplemented turtles. These findings highlight DGL’s potential as a nutritional strategy to enhance growth, antioxidant capacity, and health in intensive turtle farming.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/5/534aquacultureD-glucuronolactoneantioxidantimmune responsehealth<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>
spellingShingle Tong Zhou
Wenyi Wu
Mingyang Xue
Yong Zhou
Hongwei Liang
Wei Liu
Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)
Antioxidants
aquaculture
D-glucuronolactone
antioxidant
immune response
health
<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>
title Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)
title_full Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)
title_fullStr Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)
title_short Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance Enhanced by Dietary D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)
title_sort antioxidant capacity and disease resistance enhanced by dietary d glucuronolactone supplementation in chinese soft shelled turtles i pelodiscus sinensis i
topic aquaculture
D-glucuronolactone
antioxidant
immune response
health
<i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/5/534
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