Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus

Abstract This study investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides (NTs) on hematological indices, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, digestive functions, and intestinal histomorphology of Sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus). Over 10 weeks, five diets with varying levels of NTs (0 g/kg, 1....

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Main Authors: Meigol Taklu, Houman Rajabi Islami, Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi, Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi, Ayoub Yousefi Jourdehi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96116-1
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author Meigol Taklu
Houman Rajabi Islami
Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi
Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi
Ayoub Yousefi Jourdehi
author_facet Meigol Taklu
Houman Rajabi Islami
Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi
Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi
Ayoub Yousefi Jourdehi
author_sort Meigol Taklu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides (NTs) on hematological indices, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, digestive functions, and intestinal histomorphology of Sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus). Over 10 weeks, five diets with varying levels of NTs (0 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, 3.5 g/kg, and 5.0 g/kg) were fed to triplicate groups of the fish (initial weight: 95.33 ± 1.23 g) in a flow-through system. The results indicated that final weight and relative growth rate reached the highest values in fish fed with the 5.0 g/kg NTs supplemented diet (p < 0.05). The fish fed NTs-supplemented diets also had lower feed conversion ratios than those fed the basal diet (p < 0.05). While total leukocytes were increased by increasing the dietary NTs supplementation to the highest value in the fish fed with 3.5 g/kg NTs, no significant differences were obtained in RBC, Hb, MCHC, HCT, and eosinophil values among the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The highest WBC count was seen in the fish fed with 3.5 g/kg NTs compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The serum hepatic enzyme levels generally decreased with higher NTs supplementation, although alanine transaminase significantly increased at the 5.0 g/kg level (p < 0.05). The antioxidant capacity was improved in the fish fed with NTs at 0.25 and 0.35 g/kg (p < 0.05), while the serum malondialdehyde level was decreased up to 3.5 g/kg NTs but it was increased at 5.0 g/kg (p < 0.05). The protease and amylase activities peaked in the fish receiving 3.5 g/kg NTs (p < 0.05), with the highest lipase activity obtained in 2.5 g/kg NTs (p < 0.05). The intestinal histology revealed that the fish fed with NTs at 3.5 g/kg exhibited the greatest villus height and width, along with more goblet cells (p < 0.05). Based on the second-order polynomial regression analysis, the optimum dietary levels of NTs for positive effects on physiometabolic responses and intestine functions of the Sterlet sturgeon lies in the range of 2.2–3.6 g/kg.
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spelling doaj-art-c08bf9b3fcdc4de1ac4036d6990c28f72025-08-20T01:54:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-96116-1Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenusMeigol Taklu0Houman Rajabi Islami1Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi2Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi3Ayoub Yousefi Jourdehi4Department of Fisheries, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of Fisheries, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityIranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), National Research Center of Saline-waters Aquatics, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)Department of Animal Science, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityIranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), International Sturgeon Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)Abstract This study investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides (NTs) on hematological indices, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, digestive functions, and intestinal histomorphology of Sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus). Over 10 weeks, five diets with varying levels of NTs (0 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, 3.5 g/kg, and 5.0 g/kg) were fed to triplicate groups of the fish (initial weight: 95.33 ± 1.23 g) in a flow-through system. The results indicated that final weight and relative growth rate reached the highest values in fish fed with the 5.0 g/kg NTs supplemented diet (p < 0.05). The fish fed NTs-supplemented diets also had lower feed conversion ratios than those fed the basal diet (p < 0.05). While total leukocytes were increased by increasing the dietary NTs supplementation to the highest value in the fish fed with 3.5 g/kg NTs, no significant differences were obtained in RBC, Hb, MCHC, HCT, and eosinophil values among the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The highest WBC count was seen in the fish fed with 3.5 g/kg NTs compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The serum hepatic enzyme levels generally decreased with higher NTs supplementation, although alanine transaminase significantly increased at the 5.0 g/kg level (p < 0.05). The antioxidant capacity was improved in the fish fed with NTs at 0.25 and 0.35 g/kg (p < 0.05), while the serum malondialdehyde level was decreased up to 3.5 g/kg NTs but it was increased at 5.0 g/kg (p < 0.05). The protease and amylase activities peaked in the fish receiving 3.5 g/kg NTs (p < 0.05), with the highest lipase activity obtained in 2.5 g/kg NTs (p < 0.05). The intestinal histology revealed that the fish fed with NTs at 3.5 g/kg exhibited the greatest villus height and width, along with more goblet cells (p < 0.05). Based on the second-order polynomial regression analysis, the optimum dietary levels of NTs for positive effects on physiometabolic responses and intestine functions of the Sterlet sturgeon lies in the range of 2.2–3.6 g/kg.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96116-1Digestive enzymesHematologyIntestinal histomorphologyMetabolic enzymesSterlet sturgeon
spellingShingle Meigol Taklu
Houman Rajabi Islami
Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi
Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi
Ayoub Yousefi Jourdehi
Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
Scientific Reports
Digestive enzymes
Hematology
Intestinal histomorphology
Metabolic enzymes
Sterlet sturgeon
title Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
title_full Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
title_fullStr Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
title_full_unstemmed Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
title_short Supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile, hepatic biomarkers, antioxidant capacity, and digestive functions in Sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus
title_sort supplemental effect of dietary nucleotides on hematological profile hepatic biomarkers antioxidant capacity and digestive functions in sterlet sturgeon acipenser ruthenus
topic Digestive enzymes
Hematology
Intestinal histomorphology
Metabolic enzymes
Sterlet sturgeon
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96116-1
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