Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stress mitigating and growth enhancing effect of dietary tryptophan in rohu (Labeo rohita, Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

  • Published:
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the stress mitigation and growth enhancing role of dietary l-tryptophan (TRP) under thermal stress in rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings for 45 days. Seven hundred and twenty fishes were distributed in three major groups that are ambient temperature (26 °C), 34 and 38 °C in triplicate following a complete randomized design. Acclimation of fishes to 34 and 38 °C over average ambient temperatures were carried out at 1 °C/day. Each group was fed with a diet supplemented with 0, 0.36, 0.72 or 1.42 % l-TRP. Results showed that blood glucose and serum cortisol level were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the higher temperature groups than the ambient temperature group. Similarly, aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, CAT, superoxide dismutase activities were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the control groups (0 % l-TRP) and decreasing activities of these enzymes were observed with the increasing level of dietary l-TRP. In different temperature groups, l-TRP-supplemented groups were found to have higher (p < 0.05) growth, RGR and PER. The results obtained in the present study indicate that dietary l-TRP mitigates thermal stress and enhances growth. From the present study, we can conclude that dietary supplementation of l-TRP at the 0.72 % level in the diet is found to be optimum to reduce thermal stress even up to 38 °C in rohu, L. rohita. The baseline data obtained here could be useful for the farmers to formulate feeds to culture the fish in different agro-climatic zones.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akhtar MS, Pal AK, Sahu NP, Alexander C, Gupta SK, Choudhary AK, Jha AK, Rajan MG (2010) Stress mitigating and immunomodulatory effect of dietary pyridoxine in Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings. Aquacult Res 41(7):991–1002

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar MS, Pal AK, Sahu NP, Alexander C, Meena DK (2011) Dietary pyridoxine enhances thermal tolerance of Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings reared under endosulfan stress. J Therm Biol 36:84–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AOAC (1995) Official methods of analysis of the association official analytical chemists. In: Cunniff PA (ed) AOAC International, vol 1, 16th edn. Arlington, VA, pp 31–65

  • Augustinsson KB (1957) Assay methods for cholinesterases. In: Glick D (ed) Methods of biochemical analysis. Interscience, NY, p 44

    Google Scholar 

  • Beitinger TL, Bennett WA (2000) Quantification of the role of acclimation temperature in temperature tolerance of fishes. Environ Biol Fish 58:277–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee N, Pal AK, Das T, Manush SM, Sarma K, Venkateshwarlu G, Mukherjee SC (2006) Secondary stress response in Indian major carps Labeo rohita (Ham), Catla catla (Ham) and Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham) fry to increasing packing densities. Aquacult Res 37:472–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciji A, Sahu NP, Pal AK, Dasgupta S, Akthar MS (2012) Alterations in serum electrolytes, antioxidative enzymes and haematological parameters of Labeo rohita on short-term exposure to sublethal dose of nitrite. Fish Physiol Biochem 38:1355–1365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Claiborne A (1985) Catalase activity. In: Greenwald RA (ed) CRC handbook of methods in oxygen radical research. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 283–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Conceicao LEC, Aragao C, Dias J, Costas B, Terova G, Martins C, Tort L (2012) Dietary nitrogen and fish welfare. Fish Physiol Biochem 38:119–141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costas B, Aragao C, Ruiz-Jarabo I, Vargas-Chacoff L, Arjona FJ, Mancera JM, Dinis MT, Conceicao LEC (2012) Different environmental temperatures affect amino acid metabolism in the eurytherm teleost Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858) as indicated by changes in plasma metabolites. Amino Acids 43:327–335

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Das P, Pal AK, Chakraborty SK, Manush SM, Sahu NP, Mukherjee SC (2005) Thermal tolerance, growth and oxygen consumption of Labeo rohita fry (Hamilton, 1822) acclimated to four temperatures. J Therm Biol 30:378–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das T, Pal AK, Chakraborty SK, Manush SM, Chatterjee N, Apte SK (2006) Metabolic elasticity and induction of heat shock protein (hsp-70) in Labeo rohita acclimated to four temperatures. Asian-Aust J Anim Sci 9(7):1033–1039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis KB (2004) Temperature affects physiological stress responses to acute confinement in sunshine bass (Morone chrysops × Morone saxatilis). Comp Biochem Physiol A 139:433–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan DB (1955) Multiple range and multiple F-tests. Biometrics 11:1–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2012) FAO yearbook on fishery statistics of aquaculture production. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez JA, Strathe A (2009) Dietary tryptophan and threonine supply to 28 days old weaned piglets. Anim Feed Sci Technol 154:265–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grigo F (1975) How much is carp (C. carpio) stressed by temperature? Blood composition, with a special look at the serum sletrolytes. Zool Anz 8:215–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimmett A, Sillence MN (2005) Calmatives for the excitable horse: a review of l-tryptophan. Vet J 170:24–32

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halver JE (1976) The nutritional requirements of cultivated warm water and cold water fish species. Paper no. 31. In: FAO technical conference on aquaculture, Kyoto, 26 May to 2 June 1976, p 9

  • Herrero MJ, Martinez FJ, Miguez JM, Madrid JA (2006) Response of plasma and gastrointestinal melatonin, plasma cortisol and activity rhythms of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to dietary supplementation with tryptophan and melatonin. J Comp Physiol B. doi:10.1007/s00360-006-0131-6

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hestrin S (1949) The reaction of acetylcholine and other carboxylic acid derivatives with hydroxylamine and its analytical application. J Biol Chem 180:249–261

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoglund E, Sorensen C, Bakke MJ, Nilsson GE, Overli O (2007) Attenuation of stress-induced anorexia in brown trout (Salmo trutta) by pre-treatment with dietary l-tryptophan. Br J Nutr 97:786–789

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoseini SM, Hosseini SA (2010) Effect of dietary l-tryptophan on osmotic stress tolerance in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, juveniles. Fish Physiol Biochem 36(4):1061–1067

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hseu JR, Lu FI, Su HM, Wang LS, Tsai CL, Hwang PP (2003) Effect of exogenous tryptophan on cannibalism, survival and growth in juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Aquac Eng 218:251–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knox WE, Greengard O (1965) The regulation of some enzymes of intermediary metabolism—an introduction to enzyme physiology. In: Weber G (ed) Advanced enzyme regulation, vol 3. Pergamon Press, New York, pp 247–313

    Google Scholar 

  • LaranjaJr JLQ, Quinitio ET, Catacutan MR, Coloso RM (2010) Effects of dietary l-tryptophan on the agonistic behavior, growth and survival of juvenile mud crab Scylla serrata. Aquaculture 310:84–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Floc’h N, Seve B (2007) Biological roles of tryptophan and its metabolism: potential implications for pig feeding. Livest Sci 112:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepage O, Tottmar O, Winberg S (2002) Elevated dietary intake of l-tryptophan counteracts the stress-induced elevation of plasma cortisol in rainbow trout (Oncorhnchus mykiss). J Exp Biol 205:3679–3687

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone DR, Garcia-Martinez P, Michel X, Narbonne JF, O’Hara S, Ribera D, Winston GW (1990) Oxyradical generation as a pollution-mediated mechanism of toxicity in the common mussel, Mytilus edulis L. and other molluscs. Funct Ecol 4:415–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martins CIM, Silva PIM, Costas B, Larsen BK, Santos GA, Conceicao LEC, Dias J, Overli O, Hoglund E, Schrama JW (2013) The effect of tryptophan supplemented diets on brain serotonergic activity and plasma cortisol under undisturbed and stressed conditions in grouped-housed Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Aquaculture 400–401:129–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misra HP, Fridovich T (1972) The role of superoxide anion in the autoxidation of epinephrine and a simple assay for superoxide dismutase. J Biol Chem 247:3170–3175

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson N, Somogyi M (1945) Determination of glucose. In: Oser BL (ed) Hawk’s physiological chemistry, 14th edn. McGraw Hill, New York, p 113

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochoa S (1955) Malic dehydrogenase and malic enzyme. In: Coloric SP, Kaplan N (eds) Methods of enzymology, vol 1. Academic Press, New York, pp 735–745

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen YA, Falk K, Reite OB (1992) Cortisol and lactate levels of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar developing infectious anemia (ISA). Dis Aquat Org 14:99–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahoo PK (2007) Role of immunostimulants in disease resistance of fish. CAB Rev Perspect Agric Vet Sci Nutr Nat Res 2:045

    Google Scholar 

  • Saurabh S, Sahoo PK (2008) Lysozyme: an important defence molecule of fish innate immune system—review. Aquac Res 39:223–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saurabh S, Mohanty BR, Sahoo PK (2011) Expression of immune-related genes in rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) by experimental freshwater lice Argulus siamensis (Wilson) infection. Vet Parasitol 175:119–128

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selye H (1953) The present state of stress conception. Munch Med Wochenschr 95(15):426–433

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tejpal CS, Pal AK, Sahu NP, Jha AK, Muthappa NA, Vidya S, Rajan MG (2009) Dietary supplementation of l-tryptophan mitigates crowding stress and augments the growth in Cirrihinus mrigala fingerlings. Aquaculture 293:272–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tort L (2011) Stress and immune modulation in fish. Dev Comp Immunol 35(12):1366–1375

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verma AK, Pal AK, Manush SM, Das T, Dalvi RS, Chandrachoodan PP, Ravi PM, Apte SK (2007) Persistent sub-lethal chlorine exposure elicits the temperature induced stress responses in Cyprinus carpio early fingerlings. Pestic Biochem Physiol 83:229–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vijayan MM, Pereira C, Forsyth RB, Kennedy CJ, Iwama GK (1997) Handling stress does not affect the expression of hepatic heat shock protein 70 and conjugation enzymes in rainbow trout treated with beta-napthoflavine. Life Sci 61:117–127

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vijayaraghaban S, Rao JVR (1986) Starvational stress effects on tissue lactate and lactate dehydrogenase activity in Anabas scandens (Cuvier). Comp Physiol Ecol 11(4):233–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Walton MJ, Coloso RM, Cowey CB, Adron JW, Knox D (1984) The effects of dietary tryptophan levels on growth and metabolism of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerz). Br J Nutr 51:279–287

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wedemeyer GA, Mcleay DJ (1981) Methods for determining the tolerance of fishes to environmental stressors. In: Pickering AD (ed) Stress and fish. Academic Press, London, pp 247–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Wendelaar Bonga SE (1997) The stress response in fish. Physiol Rev 77:591–625

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winberg S, Lepage O (1998) Elevation of brain 5-HT activity, POMC expression and plasma cortisol in socially subordinate rainbow trout. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 43:R645–R654

    Google Scholar 

  • Winberg S, Overli O, Lepage O (2001) Suppression of aggression in rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) by dietary l-tryptophan. J Exp Biol 204:3867–3876

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wooton IDP (1964) Microanalysis in medical biochemistry, 4th edn. J. & A. Churchill, London, pp 101–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Wroblewski F, Ladue JS (1955) Lactic dehydrogenase activity in blood. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 90:210–213

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (2009) Biostatistical analysis. Pearson, Delhi

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, for providing the necessary facilities to carry out this research work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Yari Road, Versova, Mumbai, 400061, India

    Prem Kumar, A. K. Pal & N. P. Sahu

  2. Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75, Santhome High Road, R.A. Puram, Chennai, 600028, India

    Prem Kumar & A. R. T. Arasu

  3. Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, 751002, India

    Shailesh Saurabh

Authors
  1. Prem Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shailesh Saurabh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. K. Pal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. P. Sahu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. R. T. Arasu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shailesh Saurabh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, P., Saurabh, S., Pal, A.K. et al. Stress mitigating and growth enhancing effect of dietary tryptophan in rohu (Labeo rohita, Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings. Fish Physiol Biochem 40, 1325–1338 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-014-9927-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-014-9927-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation