Digestive characteristics and blood chemistry profile of triploid rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: influence of body size and seasonal variation

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of body size and seasonal variation on organ indexes, digestive enzymes and plasma biochemistry parameters of triploid rainbow trout. Results in experiment 1 showed that compared with small fish, large fish had significantly (P\u2009<\u20090.05) higher values of organ indexes, higher plasma nutrient contents as well as higher specific activities of lipase in pyloric caeca and amylase in the intestine. Results in experiment 2 showed that fish in spring or winter had greater intestine length as well as lower specific activities of protease and lipase in pyloric caeca (P\u2009<\u20090.05). Fish in autumn had the highest specific activities of acid protease in the stomach and alkaline protease in pyloric caeca, lipase in pyloric caeca as well as nutrient contents in plasma, while fish in summer had the lowest liver and viscera weight as well as plasma nutrient contents. Based on data of organ indexes, digestive enzymes and plasma biochemistry parameters, the physiological status of triploid rainbow trout were affected by fish size and seasonal variation. Normal reference ranges of organ indexes and plasma biochemical parameters of triploid rainbow trout were preliminarily established, which are partly different from diploid trout.