A Newly Isolated Strain of Haematococcus pluvialis GXU-A23 Improves the Growth Performance, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Status, Metabolic Capacity and Mid-intestine Morphology of Juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

<i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i> can be used as a green additive in aquafeeds due to it contains rich astaxanthin and polyunsaturated fatty acid. In the present study, a newly strain of <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23 with high concentration of astaxanthin was firstly isolated by a newly culture strategy in our laboratory. In addition, <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23 was applied in the <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> feed for determining whether it has positive effects on the growth performance, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status, metabolic capacity and mid-intestine morphology of juvenile <i>L. vannamei</i>. Shrimp with 0.63 g approximately initial body weight were fed diets supplemented with/without 50 g/kg <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23. After 8 weeks feeding intervention, significantly higher growth performance of <i>L. vannamei</i> was obtained in the <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23 treatment group compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At the same time, <i>L. vannamei</i> fed with <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23 acquired significantly better antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status than the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, higher RNA expression level of hepatopancreas digestive enzyme, hepatopancreas lipid and glucose metabolic enzymes as well as better mid-intestine morphology were found in the <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23 treatment group than the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These results indicated that 50 g/kg <i>H. pluvialis</i> GXU-A23 was suitable for the <i>L. vannamei</i> feed, which could improve the growth performance, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status, metabolic capacity and mid-intestine morphology of juvenile <i>L. vannamei.</i>