Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary melatonin supplementation on growth and diurnal non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activities, and circadian clock-related gene expression in crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>). A total of 500 healthy ju...

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Main Authors: Jinglong Chen, Youhai Du, Mengyue Zhang, Jiahui Wang, Jianhua Ming, Xianping Shao, Aimin Wang, Hongyan Tian, Wuxiao Zhang, Silei Xia, Weigen Cheng, Jinlan Xu, Xiaochuan Zheng, Bo Liu
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Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/114
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author Jinglong Chen
Youhai Du
Mengyue Zhang
Jiahui Wang
Jianhua Ming
Xianping Shao
Aimin Wang
Hongyan Tian
Wuxiao Zhang
Silei Xia
Weigen Cheng
Jinlan Xu
Xiaochuan Zheng
Bo Liu
author_facet Jinglong Chen
Youhai Du
Mengyue Zhang
Jiahui Wang
Jianhua Ming
Xianping Shao
Aimin Wang
Hongyan Tian
Wuxiao Zhang
Silei Xia
Weigen Cheng
Jinlan Xu
Xiaochuan Zheng
Bo Liu
author_sort Jinglong Chen
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary melatonin supplementation on growth and diurnal non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activities, and circadian clock-related gene expression in crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>). A total of 500 healthy juvenile crayfish (6.68 ± 0.31 g) were randomly distributed into five groups with four replicates each and fed five different diets supplemented with melatonin at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg for 60 days. The results indicated that dietary supplementation of 50 mg/kg melatonin significantly increased the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) of juvenile <i>Procambarus clarkii</i>. However, no significant differences were observed in the hepatosomatic index (HSI), meat yield, and condition factor (<i>p</i> > 0.05). When the dietary melatonin level was 50 mg/kg, the activities of LZM and ALP in the hemolymph of <i>Procambarus clarkii</i> were higher than the levels at both 15:00 and 03:00, while the activities of AST and ALT remained at lower levels during these two time points. It also significantly upregulated the mRNA expression levels of <i>Clock</i>, <i>Per1</i>, <i>Cry1</i>, <i>Tim1</i>, and <i>Tim2</i> in the hepatopancreas (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary melatonin at 50 mg/kg significantly reduced the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the malondialdehyde (MDA) content across day and night (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant differences were found in acid phosphatase (ACP) at 15:00, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and amylase (AMS) activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine at 3:00 among the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). At 15:00, supplementation with 50 mg/kg significantly upregulated <i>Bmal1</i> mRNA expression (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Melatonin supplementation at 50–75 mg/kg resulted in significantly higher levels of TP, LZM, ALP, and CAT activities, as well as significantly higher mRNA expression of <i>Clock</i>, <i>Bmal1</i>, <i>Cry1</i>, <i>Per1</i>, <i>Tim1</i>, and <i>Tim2</i> in the hepatopancreas at 3:00 compared to 15:00 (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with the opposite trend observed for MDA content (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant differences were found in ACP, ALT, and AST activities between 3:00 and 15:00 among the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Thus, dietary supplementation of 50 mg/kg melatonin could promote the growth of juvenile <i>Procambarus clarkii</i>, enhance their non-specific immunity and antioxidant capacity during both day and night, increase the activities of digestive enzymes in the hepatopancreas and intestine, and regulate the expression of circadian clock-related genes.
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spelling doaj-art-9c486c4aa5ca4424ac56941010d23e8f2025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882025-03-0110311410.3390/fishes10030114Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)Jinglong Chen0Youhai Du1Mengyue Zhang2Jiahui Wang3Jianhua Ming4Xianping Shao5Aimin Wang6Hongyan Tian7Wuxiao Zhang8Silei Xia9Weigen Cheng10Jinlan Xu11Xiaochuan Zheng12Bo Liu13Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development, College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development, College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development, College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development, College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development, College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Resources Conservation and Development, College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, ChinaCollege of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, ChinaCollege of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, ChinaCollege of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, ChinaCollege of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, ChinaCollege of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, ChinaCollege of Marine and Biology Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, ChinaFreshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, ChinaFreshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, ChinaThis study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary melatonin supplementation on growth and diurnal non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activities, and circadian clock-related gene expression in crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>). A total of 500 healthy juvenile crayfish (6.68 ± 0.31 g) were randomly distributed into five groups with four replicates each and fed five different diets supplemented with melatonin at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg for 60 days. The results indicated that dietary supplementation of 50 mg/kg melatonin significantly increased the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) of juvenile <i>Procambarus clarkii</i>. However, no significant differences were observed in the hepatosomatic index (HSI), meat yield, and condition factor (<i>p</i> > 0.05). When the dietary melatonin level was 50 mg/kg, the activities of LZM and ALP in the hemolymph of <i>Procambarus clarkii</i> were higher than the levels at both 15:00 and 03:00, while the activities of AST and ALT remained at lower levels during these two time points. It also significantly upregulated the mRNA expression levels of <i>Clock</i>, <i>Per1</i>, <i>Cry1</i>, <i>Tim1</i>, and <i>Tim2</i> in the hepatopancreas (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary melatonin at 50 mg/kg significantly reduced the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the malondialdehyde (MDA) content across day and night (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant differences were found in acid phosphatase (ACP) at 15:00, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and amylase (AMS) activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine at 3:00 among the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). At 15:00, supplementation with 50 mg/kg significantly upregulated <i>Bmal1</i> mRNA expression (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Melatonin supplementation at 50–75 mg/kg resulted in significantly higher levels of TP, LZM, ALP, and CAT activities, as well as significantly higher mRNA expression of <i>Clock</i>, <i>Bmal1</i>, <i>Cry1</i>, <i>Per1</i>, <i>Tim1</i>, and <i>Tim2</i> in the hepatopancreas at 3:00 compared to 15:00 (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with the opposite trend observed for MDA content (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant differences were found in ACP, ALT, and AST activities between 3:00 and 15:00 among the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Thus, dietary supplementation of 50 mg/kg melatonin could promote the growth of juvenile <i>Procambarus clarkii</i>, enhance their non-specific immunity and antioxidant capacity during both day and night, increase the activities of digestive enzymes in the hepatopancreas and intestine, and regulate the expression of circadian clock-related genes.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/114<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>melatoninnon-specific immunityantioxidant capacitydigestive enzymescircadian clock gene
spellingShingle Jinglong Chen
Youhai Du
Mengyue Zhang
Jiahui Wang
Jianhua Ming
Xianping Shao
Aimin Wang
Hongyan Tian
Wuxiao Zhang
Silei Xia
Weigen Cheng
Jinlan Xu
Xiaochuan Zheng
Bo Liu
Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)
Fishes
<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>
melatonin
non-specific immunity
antioxidant capacity
digestive enzymes
circadian clock gene
title Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)
title_full Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)
title_fullStr Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)
title_short Effects of Melatonin on the Growth and Diurnal Variation of Non-Specific Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Circadian Clock-Related Gene Expression in Crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>)
title_sort effects of melatonin on the growth and diurnal variation of non specific immunity antioxidant capacity digestive enzyme activity and circadian clock related gene expression in crayfish i procambarus clarkii i
topic <i>Procambarus clarkii</i>
melatonin
non-specific immunity
antioxidant capacity
digestive enzymes
circadian clock gene
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/114
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