Hepatic glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase responses to dietary glucose and starch in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles reared at two temperatures.

The effects of carbohydrate sources/complexity and rearing temperature on hepatic glucokinase (GK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activities and gene expression were studied in gilthead sea bream juveniles. Two isonitrogenous (50% crude protein) and isolipidic (19% crude lipids) diets were formulated to contain 20% waxy maize starch or 20% glucose. Triplicate groups of fish (63.5 g initial body weight) were fed each diet to near satiation during four weeks at 18 degrees C or 25 degrees C. Growth, feed intake, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio, were higher at the higher water temperature. At each water temperatures fish growth and feed efficiency were higher with the glucose diet. Plasma glucose levels were not influenced by water temperature but were higher in fish fed the glucose diet. Hepatosomatic index and liver glycogen were higher at the lower water temperature and within each water temperature in fish fed the glucose diet. No effect of water temperature on enzymes activities was observed, except for hexokinase and GK which were higher at 25 degrees C. Hepatic hexokinase and pyruvate kinase activities were not influenced by diet composition, whereas glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was higher in fish fed the glucose diet. Higher GK activity was observed in fish fed the glucose diet. GK gene expression was higher at 25 degrees C in fish fed the waxy maize starch diet while in fish fed the glucose diet, no temperature effect on GK gene expression was observed. Hepatic G6Pase activities and gene expression were neither influenced by dietary carbohydrates nor water temperature. Overall, our data suggest that in gilthead sea bream juveniles hepatocytes dietary carbohydrate source and temperature affect more intensively GK, the enzyme responsible for the first step of glucose uptake, than G6Pase the enzyme involved in the last step of glucose hepatic release.     

Rearing temperature enhances hepatic glucokinase but not glucose-6-phosphatase activities in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles fed with the same level of glucose

The aim of this work was to elucidate if the previous results observed in hepatic glucokinase (GK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activities in European sea bass and gilthead sea bream are due to temperature per se or to differences in feed intake at different water temperatures. For that purpose triplicate groups of fish (30 g initial body weight) were kept at 18 degrees C or 25 degrees C during two weeks and fed a fixed daily ration of a glucose-free or 20% glucose diet. At the end of the experimental period, plasma glucose levels in both species were not influenced by water temperature but were higher in fish fed the glucose diet. Higher hepatic GK activity was observed in the two fish species fed the glucose diet than the glucose-free diet. In the glucose fed groups, GK activity was higher at 25 degrees C than at 18 degrees C. Glucose-6-phosphatase activities in both species were not influenced by water temperature. In European sea bass and in contrast to gilthead sea bream it was observed an effect of dietary composition on G6Pase activities with surprising higher activities recorded in fish fed the glucose diet than in fish fed the glucose-free diet. Overall, our data strongly suggest that European sea bass and gilthead sea bream are apparently capable to strongly regulate glucose uptake by the liver but not glucose synthesis, which is even enhanced by dietary glucose in European sea bass. Within limits, increasing water temperature enhances liver GK but not G6Pase activities, suggesting that both species are more able to use dietary carbohydrates at higher rearing temperatures.     

Effect of water temperature and dietary starch on growth and metabolic utilization of diets in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles

We evaluated the effect of dietary starch level on growth performance, feed utilization, whole-body composition and activity of selected key enzymes of intermediary metabolism in gilthead sea bream juveniles reared at 18 and 25 degrees C. A diet was formulated to contain 48% crude protein, 12% lipids and 30% gelatinized maize starch (diet 30GS). Two other diets were formulated to include the same level of ingredients as diet 30GS except for the gelatinized starch, which was included at 20% (diet 20GS) or 10% (diet 10GS). No adjustment to diet composition was otherwise made. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of gilthead sea bream (30 g initial mass) for 8 weeks, on a pair-feeding scheme. The higher temperature improved growth performance but the opposite was true for feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. Independently of temperature, growth performance, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were lower in fish fed diet 30GS. No effect of temperature or dietary starch level on whole-body composition was noticed. Hepatosomatic index and liver glycogen were higher at 18 degrees C and, within each temperature, in fish fed diet 30GS. Glycemia was not affected by temperature, but was lower in fish fed diet 10GS. Data on enzyme activities showed that increasing water temperature enhances liver glucokinase (GK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities, suggesting that gilthead sea bream is more apt to use dietary starch at higher temperatures. No effect of temperature was noticed on hexokinase (HK), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities. Dietary starch enhanced PK and FBPase activities while depressed GDH activity, suggesting a lack of significant regulation of hepatic glucose utilization and production in this species. HK, GK and G6PD activities were unaffected by dietary composition. Irrespectively of water temperature, gelatinized starch may be included up to 20% in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles; at higher dietary levels, growth and efficiency of feed utilization are depressed.     

Molecular cloning of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit from gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata): response of its mRNA levels and glucokinase expression to refeeding and diet composition

To examine the relationship between structure and function of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in fish, we undertook molecular cloning and modulation of G6Pase expression by starvation and refeeding on diets with different nutrient composition in the liver of the carnivorous fish, Sparus aurata. A cDNA encoding the full-length G6Pase catalytic subunit from the liver of S. aurata was isolated. This cDNA encodes a 350-amino acid protein, with low homology to the mammalian G6Pase, although it contains most of the key residues required for catalysis. Based on hydrophobicity and membrane structure prediction, we propose a model containing nine-transmembrane regions for S. aurata G6Pase. Northern blots showed that refeeding after a prolonged starvation rapidly reverses the glucose/glucose-6-phosphate substrate cycle flux in the fish liver through decreased G6Pase expression and strong glucokinase (GK) induction. The effect of refeeding different diets on G6Pase and GK expression, indicated that hepatic intermediary metabolism of fish fed diets with low protein/high carbohydrate diets is impelled towards utilization of dietary carbohydrates, by means of modulation of GK mRNA levels rather than G6Pase expression. These findings challenge the role attributed to dysregulation of G6Pase or GK expression in the low ability of carnivorous fish to metabolise glucose.     

Water temperature affects osmoregulatory responses in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

Sea bream (Sparus aurata Linneaus) was acclimated to three salinity concentrations, viz. 5 (LSW), 38 (SW) and 55psμ (HSW) and three water temperatures regimes (12, 19 and 26 °C) for five weeks. Osmoregulatory capacity parameters (plasma osmolality, sodium, chloride, cortisol, and branchial and renal Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities) were also assessed. Salinity and temperature affected all of the parameters tested. Our results indicate that environmental temperature modulates capacity in sea bream, independent of environmental salinity, and set points of plasma osmolality and ion concentrations depend on both ambient salinity and temperature. Acclimation to extreme salinity resulted in stress, indicated by elevated basal plasma cortisol levels. Response to salinity was affected by ambient temperature. A comparison between branchial and renal Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities appears instrumental in explaining salinity and temperature responses. Sea bream regulate branchial enzyme copy numbers (V_max) in hyperosmotic media (SW and HSW) to deal with ambient temperature effects on activity; combinations of high temperatures and salinity may exceed the adaptive capacity of sea bream. Salinity compromises the branchial enzyme capacity (compared to basal activity at a set salinity) when temperature is elevated and the scope for temperature adaptation becomes smaller at increasing salinity. Renal Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase capacity appears fixed and activity appears to be determined by temperature.     

Osmoregulatory responses to abrupt salinity changes in the euryhaline gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

• 1.1. Gilthead sea breams (Sparus aurata L.) adapted to sea water (SW, 39‰ salinity) and brackish water (BW, 7‰) were submitted to abrupt osmotic stress by transferring the specimens to 7‰ and 39‰, respectively.
• 2.2. Plasma osmolality, Na,⁺ Cl, ⁻ K, ⁺ Ca, ²⁺ cortisol and glucose were measured before and after the transfers.
• 3.3. The transfer from SW to BW led to transitory hypomineralization and hyperglycemia. In long-term adapted fish cortisol level increased, and osmolality slightly decreased.
• 4.4. Conversely, the transfer from BW to SW provoked transitory hypermineralization. In adapted fish, cortisol levels strongly decreased, and osmolality slightly increased.

     

Intestinal glucose and galactose transport in the cultured gilthead bream (Sparus aurata)

1. Electrical parameters and transepithelial glucose and galactose transport were determined in vitro across anterior and posterior intestine of the culture fish Sparus aurata. 2. Electrical potential difference (PD) and short-circuit current (Isc) were serosa-positive in anterior intestine, while they were serosa-negative or near zero in posterior intestine. 3. Tissue conductance (Gt) was higher in posterior than in anterior intestine. In both parts it was decreased when the Na ion was omitted in mucosal and serosal reservoirs. 4. Addition of glucose or galactose to the mucosal side of intestine caused an increase in PD and Isc in posterior intestine but did not significantly change PD and Isc in anterior intestine. 5. Isotopic flux of glucose and galactose measurements in short-circuit conditions showed a net active glucose and galactose absorption in posterior intestine, while in anterior intestine active transport of glucose or galactose was not observed. 6. The net transport of glucose and galactose in posterior intestine was decreased to zero in the absence of Na in mucosal and serosal reservoirs or in the presence of ouabain (1 mM) in serosal solution.     

Quantitative trait loci for resistance to fish pasteurellosis in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Fish pasteurellosis is a bacterial disease causing important losses in farmed fish, including gilthead sea bream, a teleost fish of great relevance in marine aquaculture. We report in this study a QTL analysis for resistance to fish pasteurellosis in this species. An experimental population of 500 offspring originating from eight sires and six dams in a single mass‐spawning event was subjected to a disease challenge with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp), the causative agent of fish pasteurellosis. A total of 151 microsatellite loci were genotyped in the experimental population, and half‐sib regression QTL analysis was carried out on two continuous traits, body length at time of death and survival, and for two binary traits, survival at day 7 and survival at day 15, when the highest peaks of mortality were observed. Two significant QTLs were detected for disease resistance. The first one was located on linkage group LG3 affecting late survival (survival at day 15). The second one, for overall survival, was located on LG21, which allowed us to highlight a potential marker (Id13) linked to disease resistance. A significant QTL was also found for body length at death on LG6 explaining 5–8% of the phenotypic variation.     

Visualizing mineralization in deformed opercular bones of larval gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

During the rearing process of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), abnormal development of the opercular bone is particularly common (Aquaculture 156, 1997, 165). In order to alleviate its occurrence in rearing facilities, it’s crucial to identify the very first physical signs of deviation in normal skeletal development. Nano‐CT‐scanning was tested for its applicability to quantify deviations in bone mineralization levels. Seven opercles were dissected from larvi of 65 days post hatching, randomly sampled at the commercial sea bream hatchery Maricoltura di Rosignano Solvay (Livorno, Italy). The samples were nano‐CT‐scanned and computationally reconstructed. Mineralization intensity was colorcoded using Amira software, resulting in a detailed visualization of opercular morphology and mineralization patterns. In conclusion, nano‐CT‐scanning promises to be a good tool to both describe morphology and detect mineralization levels in the early onset of deformities.     

Seasonal variations of cellular stress response of the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

The present study aimed to investigate the seasonal cellular stress response in vital organs, like the heart, the liver, the whole blood and the skeletal (red and white) muscles of the Mediterranean fish Sparus aurata during a 1-year acclimatization period in the field, in two examined depths (0–2 m and 10–12 m). Processes studied included heat shock protein expression and protein kinase activation. Molecular responses were addressed through the expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90, the phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinases and particularly p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK-1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK1/2/3). The induction of Hsp70 and Hsp90 and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNKs and ERKs in the examined five tissues of the gilthead sea bream indicated a cellular stress response under the prism of a seasonal pattern which was characterized by distinct tissue specificity. Specifically, Hsp induction and MAPK activation occurred before peak summer water temperatures, with no further increases in their levels despite increases in water temperatures. Moreover, although water temperature did not vary significantly with depth of immersion, significant effects of depth on cellular stress response were observed, probably caused by different light regime. The expression and the activation of these certain proteins can be used as tools to define the extreme thermal limits of the gilthead sea bream.     

Arginine vasotocin, isotocin and melatonin responses following acclimation of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) to different environmental salinities

Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) is a euryhaline species with a capacity to cope with demands in a wide range of salinities and thus is a perfect model-fish to study osmoregulatory responses to salinity-adaptive processes and their hormonal control. Immature sea bream acclimated to different salinities, i.e. SW (38 per thousand), LSW (5 per thousand) and HSW (55 per thousand), were kept at 18 degrees C under natural photoperiod. Arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) in plasma and pituitary were determined by HPLC. Plasma melatonin (Mel) was assayed by RIA. Plasma osmolality, ion concentrations (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Cl(-)) and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in gill were measured. A steady increase in plasma AVT, along with increasing water salinity was observed. Pituitary IT concentration in HSW-acclimated fish was significantly higher than that in LSW group. AVT/IT secretory system of sea bream does appear to be involved in the mechanism of long-term acclimation to different salinities. The distinct roles and control mechanisms of both nonapeptides are suggested. Plasma Mel was significantly higher in LSW compared with both HSW and SW groups. Data indicate that the changes in Mel level are linked to osmoregulation. Further studies are required to elucidate a complex role of AVT, IT and Mel in sea bream osmoregulation.     

Cloning and analysis of expression of a gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) Mx cDNA

In the current work, we have cloned and sequenced the full cDNA for a Mx protein in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) by RACE PCR. The Mx cDNA of 2182 bp contained an open reading frame of 1857 bp that codes for a protein of 618 aa. Within the coding sequence, characteristic features of Mx proteins were found, such as a tripartite guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding motif (GXXXSGKS/T, DXXG and T/NKXD), the signature of the dynamin family, LPRG(S/K)GIVTR, and a sequence that codes for a leucine zipper at the C-terminal region of the protein. An RT-PCR was optimised to estimate the level of expression of Mx protein in sea bream. Through this method we determined that Mx is constitutively expressed in head kidney, liver, spleen, heart, gills, muscle and brain of healthy sea bream. Intramuscular challenge of sea bream with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) up-regulated Mx expression in liver, head kidney, spleen and muscle. Constitutive expression was also found in isolated head kidney macrophages and blood leukocytes. This expression was significantly up-regulated by addition of Poly I:C. Mx was not constitutively expressed in the sea bream established cell line, SAF-1, but Poly I:C and nodavirus were also capable of inducing Mx expression in this cell line.     

Energy reserves and metabolic status affect the acclimation of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) to cold

During winter, low temperatures induce a direct metabolic depression in gilthead sea bream, without any significant compensatory effect below 13 °C. The present study therefore focused on how to improve response to cold in these fish, looking specifically at the two factors of diet (high energy, HiE, and low energy, LoE) and activity (normal, ? SW, and sustained activity, + SW) prior to exposure to cold. Following a preparatory period of 75 days water was adjusted to 10 °C and kept for 40 days. Enzymatic activities and store deposition revealed that the HiE?SW group had acquired an energy surplus whilst the LoE+SW group exhibited an energy deficit. Liver enzyme activities evidenced diet dependence: LoE groups showed greater glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and HiE groups showed greater lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities. Moreover, the HiE?SW group's lower citrate synthase/cytochrome-c-oxidase ratio reflected the energy surplus available. Perivisceral fat mobilisation caused by cold stress affected liver integrity, resulting in a pre-steatotic condition for the HE?SW group. The differences in liver enzyme activities produced by pre-cold conditions disappeared at low temperatures and enzymatic activities did not compensate. Therefore any improvement that would enable gilthead sea bream to face up to winter must be achieved prior to the appearance of low temperatures.     

Intestinal l-methionine transport in the cultured gilthead bream (Sparus aurata)

• 1.1. The influx and transepithelial movements of l-methionine and its effects on the electrophysiology and Na-Cl-transport in upper and lower intestine of the cultured fish, Spanis aurata, were measured.
• 2.2. The K_m and V_max of l-methionine influx into the tissues were higher in lower intestine than in upper intestine. A prominent diffusion-like transport component was also measured in both segments during influx experiments.
• 3.3. Net transepithelial fluxes of l-methionine (1 mM) were observed in both upper and lower intestine, this transport being Na⁺-dependent.
• 4.4. The two intestinal segments exhibited an electrical potential difference (PD) and a short circuit current (I_sc) serosa negative or near zero. Tissue conductance (G_t) was higher in posterior than in lower intestine.
• 5.5. Addition of l-methionine to the mucosal side of lower or upper intestine did not induce changes in PD in either part.
• 6.6. Isotopic fluxes of Cl⁻ or Na⁺ measurements under short circuit conditions showed that there were no net Cl⁻ or Na⁺ transport in either part.
• 7.7. l-Methionine additions to the mucosa did not induce changes in unidirectional fluxes of Cl⁻ or Na⁺ or in the (I_sc) in either the anterior or posterior intestine.

     

Selected plasma biochemistry parameters in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles

The aim of this study was to assess plasma biochemistry parameters with the potential of being used as indicators of the nutritional status for healthy gilthead seabream juveniles. Triplicate groups of 18 seabream (body weight of 58 g) were kept unfed for 24 h, 7 or 14 days. Nine fish per treatment were then sampled randomly for blood collection and the following parameters analyzed in the plasma using standard clinical methods: glucose; protein; triglycerides; cholesterol; calcium; magnesium; inorganic phosphorus; alkaline phosphatase (ALP); aspartate aminotransferase (AST); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT); creatine phosphokinase (CPK); and lipase. Biochemical parameters showed lower variability among individuals than did enzymatic parameters. Plasma glucose, protein, cholesterol, calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels were inversely related to the duration of starvation. On the contrary, plasma triglycerides decreased significantly during the first week of starvation and remained stable in the second week. Plasma ALP, AST and LDH decreased significantly after 1 week of starvation and then remained constant. In healthy seabream juveniles, plasma glucose, protein, cholesterol, calcium and inorganic phosphorus are responsive to starvation and may be useful indicators of the nutritional status of the animals. Indicative baseline reference values for gilthead seabream juveniles starved for 24 h and held at optimum temperature are: protein, 3.7–4.9 g dl^?1; cholesterol, 341–407 mg dl^?1; calcium, 13.1–8.0 mg dl^?1; and inorganic phosphorus, 10–14.2 mg dl^?1. Plasma triglycerides, along with plasma enzyme activities, may be useful as indicators of short term starvation. For these parameters baseline values after 1 week of starvation were: triglycerides: 138–230 mg dl^?1; ALP: 58–125 U L^?1; AST: 15–127 U L^?1; and LDH 61–677 U L^?1. Plasma glucose is only responsive to longer starvation periods, remaining relatively stable during the first week of starvation, and ranging from 59 to 196 mg dl^?1.     

Insulin regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and expression in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in lipoprotein metabolism by virtue of its capacity to hydrolyze triglycerides circulating in the form of lipoprotein particles. Here we analyzed the fasting effects of LPL in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and also present the first study in fish of the role of insulin as a potential modulator of both LPL activity and expression. Fasting for 2 weeks provoked a clear decrease in adipose tissue LPL activity, concomitant with lower levels of plasma insulin, while no effects were observed in red muscle. To elucidate the specific role of insulin, increases of plasma insulin were experimentally induced by arginine and insulin injections. However, arginine predominantly stimulated glucagon over insulin secretion in this fish species while LPL activity did not change significantly in adipose tissue. Instead, insulin administration induced an increase in adipose tissue LPL activity 3 h after the injection, whereas LPL activity in red muscle was not affected. Changes in LPL activity were accompanied by an increase in LPL mRNA levels in the adipose tissue of insulin-injected gilthead sea bream, although changes in LPL expression were delayed in time with respect to variations in LPL activity. Finally, LPL mRNA levels in red muscle were similar between control and insulin-injected gilthead sea bream, suggesting that insulin does not play a direct role in the regulation of LPL in this tissue. The current study shows that LPL activity is regulated by nutritional condition and underscores the importance of insulin as a modulator of LPL activity and expression in the adipose tissue of gilthead sea bream.     

Morphometric characterization of sharpsnout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) spermatozoa using computer-assisted spermatozoa analysis (ASMA)

As part of a larger study on sperm quality and cryopreservation methods, the present study characterized the head morphometry of sharpsnout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) spermatozoa, using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and computer‐assisted morphology analysis (ASMA). The latter method has been used rarely in fish and this is its first application on sharpsnout sea bream and gilthead sea bream spermatozoa. Results obtained using SEM are expensive and time‐consuming, while ASMA provides a faster and automated evaluation of morphometric parameters of spermatozoa head. For sharpsnout sea bream spermatozoa, similar head measurement values were obtained using both ASMA and SEM, having a mean ± standard error length of 2.57 ± 0.01 μm vs 2.54 ± 0.02 μm, width of 2.22 ± 0.02 μm vs 2.26 ± 0.04 μm, surface area of 4.44 ± 0.02 μm² vs 4.50 ± 0.04 μm² and perimeter of 7.70 ± 0.02 μm vs 7.73 ± 0.04 μm using ASMA and SEM, respectively. Although gilthead sea bream spermatozoa were found to be smaller than those of sharpsnout sea bream, spermatozoal head morphometry parameters were also found to be similar regardless of evaluation method, having a mean head length of 1.97 ± 0.01 μm vs 1.94 ± 0.02 μm, head width of 1.80 ± 0.01 μm vs 1.78 ± 0.02 μm, surface area of 3.16 ± 0.03 μm² vs 3.18 ± 0.06 μm² and perimeter of 6.52 ± 0.04 μm vs 6.56 ± 0.08 μm using ASMA and SEM, respectively. The results demonstrate that ASMA can be considered as a reliable technique for spermatozoal morphology analysis, and can be a useful tool for studies on fish spermatozoa, providing quick and objective results.