Effects of High Dietary Carbohydrate Levels on Growth Performance, Enzyme Activities, Expression of Genes Related to Liver Glucose Metabolism, and the Intestinal Microbiota of <i>Lateolabrax maculatus</i> Juveniles

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of high dietary carbohydrate levels on growth performance, enzyme activities, and gene expressions related to liver glucose metabolism and the intestinal microbiota of Lateolabrax maculatus juveniles. Two experimental diets with levels of carbohydrates (20% and 30%, named the NCD group and the HCD group, respectively) were designed to feed L. maculatus (initial weight 9.45 ± 0.03 g) for 56 days. The results showed that, compared with the NCD group, the condition factor (CF) was significantly elevated in the HCD group (p p p p HK) levels were significantly higher than those in the NCD group (p GK) and glycogen synthetase kinase-3 (GSK3β) genes in the HCD group was significantly increased (p PEPCK) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) genes in the HCD group was significantly reduced (p L. maculatus, high carbohydrates led to increased condition factor and liver glycogen, lipid deposition, decreased antioxidant capacity of the liver, increased relative abundance of harmful intestinal microorganisms, and disrupted glucose metabolism.

Keywords

• carbohydrate
• intestinal digestive enzymes
• liver antioxidative enzymes
• intestinal microbiota
• glucose metabolism
• <i>Lateolabrax maculatus</i>