Optimizing fishmeal replacement with tilapia hydrolysate protein: Effects on growth, metabolism, and gene expression in white shrimp

Abstract

Hydrolysate fish protein derived from tilapia by-products (THP) was used to evaluate growth performance in the diet of white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) and its impact on mTOR signaling pathway and gene expression related to metabolism when partially replacing fishmeal with THP. Four diets were formed, with THP substituting fishmeal levels at 0, 5, 10, and 20 %. The 56-day feeding experiment was conducted with 300 juvenile white shrimp (initial weight: 1.12 ± 0.02 g), divided into four groups. At the end of experiment period, there were no significant differences in survival rates between all of the experimental groups; however, those in the 10 % replacement group exhibited a significant increase (p 0.05) compared to the control group. Enhanced growth performance and positive regulation of related genes were most effectively detected at the 10 % replacement level (p 0.05). As a result, substituting 10 % of fishmeal with THP can boost shrimp growth rates while additionally having a beneficial effect on metabolism and mTOR pathway.

Keywords

• White shrimp
• Fish hydrolysate protein
• Growth
• MTOR
• Metabolism