Taurine alone or in combination with fish protein hydrolysate affects growth performance, taurine transport and metabolism in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of taurine (Tau) alone or in combination with fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) on growth performance, the expression of Tau transporter (TauT) and metabolic profile in juvenile turbot. FM, FPH0, FPH0+T, FPH10 and FPH10+T diets, respectively, contained 300, 150, 150, 80, and 80 g/kg fishmeal. FPH10 and FPH10+T diets contained 62 g/kg FPH. FPH0+T and FPH10+T diets were, respectively, prepared by supplementing the FPH0 and FPH10 diet formulations with 8 g/kg Tau. Specific growth rate was the highest in FM group and the lowest in FPH10 group. TauT mRNA levels in fish fed Tau supplemented diets were significantly lower than that in Tau unsupplemented diets. NMR-based metabolomics analysis showed that Tau contents in liver of FPH0+T and FPH10+T were significantly higher than that of FM, FPH0 and FPH10. In muscle, Tau contents were significantly decreased in the FPH10+T versus FPH0 and the FPH10+T versus FPH10 comparisons. In conclusion, 62 g/kg FPH to replace fishmeal may not affect Tau synthesis, transport and metabolism. However, Tau supplemented alone or in combination with a certain level of FPH could reduce the requirement for Tau synthesis and transport and increased Tau levels in muscle and liver.