Effects of dietary phenylalanine on growth, digestive and brush border enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity in the hepatopancreas and intestine of young grass carp (<i>Ctenopharyngodon idella</i>)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of phenylalanine on growth, digestive and absorptive ability and antioxidant status of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Young grass carp were fed diets containing 3.4 (basal diet), 6.1, 9.1, 11.5, 14.0 and 16.8 g phenylalanine kg−1 diet with a fixed of 10.7 g tyrosine kg−1 diet for 8 weeks. Percent weight gain (PWG), feed efficiency and feed intake of fish were the lowest in fish fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). Trypsin, lipase and amylase activities in the hepatopancreas, and antioxidants including glutathione contents and glutathione reducase activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine were all the highest in fish fed 11.5 g phenylalanine kg−1 diet (P < 0.05). Trypsin, chymotrypsin and amylase activities in whole intestine, and creatine kinase, Na+, K+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the proximal intestine, and superoxide dismutase activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine were all the highest when phenylalanine at level of 9.1 g kg−1 diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, phenylalanine improved growth, digestive and absorptive ability, and antioxidant capacity of young grass carp. The phenylalanine requirement of young grass carp (256–629 g) based on PWG was 10.4 g kg−1 diet or 3.44 g 100 g−1 protein.