Effects of Dietary Pantothenic Acid Supplement on Hepatic Antioxidative Abilities and Intestinal Microflora in Juvenile Golden Pompano (Trachinotus Ovatus)

This study explored the effects of dietary pantothenic acid (PA) supplement on juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing six graded levels of pantothenic acid (0, 16.4, 20.0, 26.0, 33.4 and 37.0 mg/kg) were formulated. Juvenile golden pompano (8.80 +/- 0.10g) were randomly assigned into six groups with three replicates in each group and 20 fish in each replicate. The fish were fed twice a day for 8 weeks. The results indicated that PA deficiency caused clubbed gills with interlamellar proliferative lesions. Survival rate increased significantly (P<0.05) when PA levels were increased. Dietary PA significantly increased the activities of hepatic acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione reductase (GR) (P<0.05) and their activities reached the maximum in the Diet-P4 group. A diet supplemented with 20.0 and 26.0 mg/kg PA significantly decreased (P<0.05) the activity of hepatic MDA. Dietary PA also increased the diversity and abundance of intestinal microflora and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria. In conclusion, PA deficiency caused lesions of gills and optimal PA supplement in diet increased hepatic antioxidative abilities and improved intestinal microflora of juvenile golden pompano.