Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of DHA-rich phosphatidylcholine (DHA-PC) extracted from Atlantic herring (
Clupea harengus) eggs on growth performance, fat metabolism, and lipid composition of largemouth bass (
Micropterus salmoides). Three isonitrogenous (48% crude protein) and isolipidic (12% crude fat) diets were prepared, containing 0, 3% and 6% DHA-PC, designated CON, MDHAPC and HDHAPC. The largemouth bass with initial weight of (4.31 ± 0. 038) g were fed the diets for 8 weeks. DHA-PC supplementation did not affect growth performance but significantly reduced the viscera-somatic index (VSI). Crude fat content in whole body decreased significantly with DHA-PC inclusion. The analysis of fatty acid composition showed that DHA-PC had a significant effect on improving the contents of DHA and EPA in fish, serum and muscle. In terms of physiological and biochemical indexes related to lipid metabolism, DHA-PC significantly reduced the content of triglyceride (TG) in serum, liver and muscle; DHA-PC significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of genes related to fat synthesis (
acc1 and
fas, etc.) in liver and muscle, but significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of genes related to lipolysis (
lpl) and fatty acid oxidation (
cpt1). Muscle tissue lipidomics analysis found that the addition of DHA-PC altered the distribution of fatty acids in PC, PE (phosphatidylethanolamine), and PI (phosphatidylinositol). Analyzing the expression of genes related to phospholipid synthesis, it was found that DHA-PC significantly promoted the mRNA expression levels of
cct-α,
cctβ and
pemt. DHA-PC had no significant effect on the growth performance of largemouth bass, and significantly reduced fat levels within tissues by inhibiting fat synthesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation and lipolysis. DHA-PC extracted from aquatic by-products is a good lipid-lowering feed additive for largemouth bass while maximizing the utilization of marine resources.