The oak (Quercus brantii) acorn as a growth promotor for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): growth performance, body composition, liver enzymes activity and blood biochemical parameters.

Medicinal plants play an important role in aquaculture as feed additives. This study aimed to investigate effects of alcoholic extract of acorn on growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes activity and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) as a commercially important fish. Five dietary treatments were supplemented: 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg-1 of the extract. Fishes were fed twice per day for 8 weeks, and results showed that acorn extract positively affected all investigated parameters in rainbow trout fishes. Digestive enzymes activity and growth performance were increased, while activity of liver enzymes and cortisol were lowed in comparison to control individuals. Body composition of treated animals was also enhanced. Comparison between treated groups together with integrative biomarker response (IBR) values indicated greatest effects in animals fed with 400 and 600 mg.kg-1 of the extract. Positive effects of the acorn represent promising start point for further studies.

RE: Prediction of the Left Ventricular Functional Outcome by Myocardial Extracellular Volume Fraction Measured Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Methodological Issue

No abstract available.

Effect of different levels of essential oils (Satureja hortensis) in diet on improvement growth, blood biochemical and immunity of Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare Schultze, 1823).

The aim of this study was designed to analyse the effect of Savoury essential oil (Satureja hortensis) on growth performance, biochemical parameters and immunity of angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare). The angelfishes (average body weight of 5.12 ± 0.01 g) were treated with three effective dosage of Savoury essential oil 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg in three separated aquaria water with one control group for 60 days. At the end of experiment, the angelfishes treated with 400 mg/kg Satureja showed minimum Feed Conversion Ratio, maximum Specific Growth Rate and Survival Rate. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) between the treated and control fish in the serum total protein, albumin, globulin, triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose and cortisol. Maximum significant amount (p < 0.05) in immunoglobulin is found in both 200 and 400 mg/kg Savoury concentration group, while significant enhancement in serum lysozyme was only found in 200 mg/kg group. Overall, the results presented in the current study revealed that savoury is a beneficial dietary supplement to improve growth performance, stress resistance and innate immune response of angelfish and the best level of inclusion was 200 mg/kg.