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- Changes in plasma amino acid levels in a euryhaline fish exposed to different environmental salinitiesPublication . Aragão, C.; Costas, B.; Vargas-Chacoff, L.; Ruiz-Jarabo, I.; Dinis, Maria Teresa; Mancera, J. M.; Conceição, L. E. C.Previous studies have shown that Senegalese sole is partially euryhaline in the juvenile phase, being able to adapt to a wide range of salinities in a short-time period, due to changes at the osmoregulatory and metabolic level. This study aimed to assess the effects of acclimation of sole to a wide range of salinities, with a special emphasis on the role of plasma amino acids during this process. Sole juveniles were acclimated for 2 weeks to different salinities: 5, 15, 25, 38, and 55 g L−1. Plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, osmolality, and free amino acids were assessed at the end. Changes in plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, and amino acids indicate that fish reared at 5 and 55 g L−1 were facing extra energy costs. Amino acids seem to play an important role during salinity acclimation, either as energy sources or as important osmolytes for cell volume regulation.
- Can dietary aromatic amino acid supplementation be beneficial during fish metamorphosis?Publication . Pinto, W.; Rodrigues, V.; Dinis, Maria Teresa; Aragão, C.Aromatic amino acids (AA, phenylalanine and tyrosine) are the precursors of thyroid hormones, which regulate metamorphosis in all vertebrates. In fish, this is a critical developmental stage where physiological requirements for aromatic AA may increase. Therefore, it is possible that dietary aromatic AA supplementation may be beneficial to accomplish a successful transition from larvae to the juvenile stage. This work aimed to assess the effect of dietary aromatic AA supplementation on tyrosine metabolism in species with an accentuated (Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis) and a less marked (gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata) metamorphosis. For this purpose, either species were fed Artemia and subsequently received or not an aromatic AA supplement through tube-feeding, together with a L-[U-14C] tyrosine marker, throughout metamorphosis. Tyrosine was elected as a tracer since the metabolic fate of this aromatic AA is directly linked to the production of thyroid hormones and metamorphosis. Results showed that dietary phenylalanine supplementation did not increase tyrosine retention in Senegalese sole larvae during metamorphosis, suggesting that this species may not be able to biosynthesise tyrosine from phenylalanine at a sufficient rate to supply its physiological requirements until after metamorphosis. Furthermore, dietary tyrosine supplementation effectively increased tyrosine availability in Senegalese sole body fluids at metamorphosis, most likely for coping with metamorphosis-related processes, such as production of thyroid hormones. Therefore, dietary tyrosine supplementation may be beneficial for Senegalese sole during metamorphosis. On the other hand, results indicated that gilthead seabream larvae do not seem to require an additional supply of aromatic AA during metamorphosis, probably because the physiological requirements for tyrosine do not increase during this developmental stage. The different results observed for Senegalese sole and gilthead seabream are probably related to the complexity of metamorphosis that each species undergoes and to the needs for production of thyroid hormones, which seems to affect aromatic AA requirements during this critical stage of development. These findings may be important for physiologists, fish nutritionists and for the flatfish aquaculture industry.
- Different environmental temperatures affect amino acid metabolism in the eurytherm teleost Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858) as indicated by changes in plasma metabolitesPublication . Costas, B.; Aragão, C.; Ruiz-Jarabo, I.; Vargas-Chacoff, L.; Arjona, F. J.; Mancera, J. M.; Dinis, Maria Teresa; Conceição, L. E. C.Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a eurytherm teleost that under natural conditions can be exposed to annual water temperature fluctuations between 12 and 26C. This study assessed the effects of temperature on sole metabolic status, in particular in what concerns plasma free amino acid changes during thermal acclimation.
- Free amino acids are absorbed faster and assimilated more efficiently than protein in postlarval Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis)Publication . Rønnestad, I.; Conceição, L. E. C.; Aragão, C.; Dinis, Maria TeresaTo improve the formulation of diets for the early stages of marine fish, assimilation rates of free amino acids (FAA) and protein in postlarval Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) were determined. Fish (2.45 ± 0.87 mg dry weight) were tube fed 36 nL of a diet of FAA containing L-[35S] methionine (FAA diet) or bovine serum albumin, containing L-[methylated-14C]bovine serum albumin (Prot-diet), both at a concentration of 4.08 g/L. A time series was performed, and the amounts of label in incubation water, liver, gut and body carcass were quantified. The FAA diet was absorbed with a 3.5-times-higher transfer rate (P < 0.001) from the gut into the larval body tissues compared with the Prot-diet. The FAA diet also was assimilated with greater efficiency than the Prot-diet (80% versus 58%, P = 0.001). If we assume that the label present in the gut represents amino acids incorporated into the intestinal tissue, the assimilation efficiencies for the two diets were 89 and 64%. Therefore, FAA seems to be superior to protein as a dietary source of amino acids in Senegal sole postlarvae. However, because the absorption dynamics of protein and FAA differ, care should be taken when using the sources together to avoid amino acid imbalance.
- Stress response and changes in amino acid requirements in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup 1858)Publication . Aragão, C.; Corte-Real, Joana; Costas, B.; Dinis, Maria Teresa; Conceição, L. E. C.Fish in aquaculture are often exposed to various stressors that may change their ability to survive or limit growth. Amino acids are used for processes other than growth, including stress response. This study intended to analyse how repeated acute handling stress can affect growth and amino acid requirements in fish. Senegalese sole juveniles were weekly held in the air during 3min (Handling) for 9 weeks; Control groups were left undisturbed. Growth and plasma levels of stress indicators and of free amino acids were assessed at the end of the experiment. Plasma cortisol and osmolality levels showed that fish in the Handling treatment were stressed, but growth was unaffected. Plasma amino acid concentrations indicate that their requirements in stressed fish were altered, which probably reflects the synthesis of proteins or other specific compounds related to stress response.
- How does fish metamorphosis affect aromatic amino acid metabolism?Publication . Pinto, W.; Figueira, L.; Dinis, Maria Teresa; Aragão, C.Aromatic amino acids (AAs, phenylalanine and tyrosine) may be specifically required during fish metamorphosis, since they are the precursors of thyroid hormones which regulate this process. This project attempted to evaluate aromatic AA metabolism during the ontogenesis of fish species with a marked (Senegalese sole; Solea senegalensis) and a less accentuated metamorphosis (gilthead seabream; Sparus aurata). Fish were tube-fed with three l-[U-14C] AA solutions at pre-metamorphic, metamorphic and post-metamorphic stages of development: controlled AA mixture (Mix), phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr). Results showed a preferential aromatic AA retention during the metamorphosis of Senegalese sole, rather than in gilthead seabream. Senegalese sole’s highly accentuated metamorphosis seems to increase aromatic AA physiological requirements, possibly for thyroid hormone production. Thus, Senegalese sole seems to be especially susceptible to dietary aromatic AA deficiencies during the metamorphosis period, and these findings may be important for physiologists, fish nutritionists and the flatfish aquaculture industry.
- Taurine supplementation to Plant-Based Diets improves lipid metabolism in Senegalese SolePublication . Raquel Cêa de Aragão Teixeira, Cláudia; Teodósio, Rita; Colen, R.; Richard, Nadège; Rønnestad, Ivar; Dias, Jorge; Conceição, Luís E. C.; Ribeiro, LauraTaurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid with important physiological roles and a key compound for the synthesis of bile salts, which are essential for the emulsion and absorption of dietary lipids. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine supplementation to low-fishmeal diets on the metabolism of taurine, bile acids, and lipids of Senegalese sole. A fishmeal (FM) and a plant-protein-based (PP0) diet were formulated, and the latter was supplemented with taurine at 0.5 and 1.5% (diets PP0.5 and PP1.5). Diets were assigned to triplicate tanks containing 35 fish (initial weight ~14 g) for 6 weeks. Fish from the PP0 treatment presented lower taurine and bile-acid concentrations compared with the FM treatment, and a downregulation of cyp7a1 and abcb11 was observed. Triolein catabolism decreased in PP0-fed fish, resulting in increased hepatic fat content and plasma triglycerides, while no effects on plasma cholesterol were observed. Taurine supplementation to plant-based diets resulted in a higher taurine accumulation in fish tissues, increased bile-acid concentration, and upregulation of cyp7a1 and abcb11. Hepatic fat content and plasma triglycerides decreased with increasing dietary taurine supplementation. Taurine supplementation mitigated part of the negative effects of plant-based diets, leading to better lipid utilisation.
- Growth, stress response and free amino acid levels in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup 1858) chronically exposed to exogenous ammoniaPublication . Pinto, W.; Aragão, C.; Soares, Florbela; Dinis, Maria Teresa; Conceição, L. E. C.Stressful husbandry conditions are likely to a¡ect growth and amino acid metabolism in ¢sh. In this study, chronic ammonia exposure was used to test the e¡ects of a stressor on growth and amino acid metabolism of Senegalese sole juveniles. The ¢sh were exposed for 52 days to 11.6 mg L 1 [low-TAN (L-TAN)] or 23.2 mg L 1 [high-TAN (H-TAN)] of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), or to 0 mg L 1 (Control). Growth in L-TAN groups was slightly but signi¢- cantly di¡erent from the Control groups [relative growth rate (RGR50.35 0.13 and 0.52 0.23% day 1respectively)]. In H-TAN groups, growth was severely a¡ected (RGR50.01 0.13% day 1 ).
- A balanced dietary amino acid profile improves amino acid retention in post-larval Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)Publication . Aragão, C.; Conceição, L. E. C.; Martins, Dulce Alves; Rønnestad, I.; Gomes, E.; Dinis, Maria TeresaThe rearing of most marine fish larvae still relies on live food. Dietary amino acid (AA) imbalances when using live food in the larval rearing of flatfishes have been suggested. The aim of this study was to test if dietary AA supplementation affects AA metabolism in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) post-larvae. This was done by tube-feeding Artemia-fed sole with a dipeptide solution containing two potential limiting AA (leucine and phenylalanine), in order to supplement the larval gut content and to balance the dietary AA profile.
- Soy protein concentrate as a protein source for Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup 1858) diets: Effects on growth and amino acid metabolism of postlarvaePublication . Aragão, C.; Conceição, L. E. C.; Dias, J.; Marques, A. C.; Gomes, E.; Dinis, Maria TeresaThe objective of this workwas to evaluate the effect of a dietary amino acid imbalance, originating from the use of a soy protein concentrate (SPC) as the major protein source, on the growth performance and amino acid metabolism of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) postlarvae. Senegalese sole (85.6724.6mg wet weight) were fed one of two experimental diets: one based on fish meal (FM) and another based on SPC. Diet were isonitrogenous (around 56% crude protein) and isoenergetic. Diet acceptability was very good and the growth rate was 6.9%day 1 for sole eating the FM diet and 6.0%day 1 for sole eating the SPC diet. Mass-speci¢c ammonia excretion and the activities of selected amino acid metabolic enzymes (ALAT, ASATand GDH) did not present significant differences between treatments, although this may have been due to the high variability found for these parameters in the SPC treatment. This variability may suggest different capacities of individual fish to adapt to the possible methionine dietary deficiency. The utilization of amino acids as a substrate for lipogenesis does not seem to be affected by the dietary protein source, since NAPDH-generating enzymes (G6PD and ME) had similar activities in both treatments. Amino acid metabolism in Senegalese sole postlarvae seems to be slightly affected by the dietary protein source. Nevertheless, the changes induced by the SPC diet do not seem to impair growth, at least at the high dietary protein level used in this experiment.