Synergistic effects of dietary vitamin E and arachidonic acid with and without vitamin C supplementation on non-specific immune responses in female broodstock Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

Abstract

Two feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the synergistic effects of dietary vitamin E and arachidonic acid with and without vitamin C supplementation on non-specific immune responses in female broodstock Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Eight experimental diets were formulated to contain two different vitamin C levels as L-Ascorbic acid (0 and 800mg AA/kg diet, C0 and C800), two different vitamin E levels as α-tocopherol (0 and 200mg α-Toc/kg diet, E0 and E200) and two different arachidonic acid levels (0, 5g ARA/kg diet, ARA0 and ARA5). In experiment 1, four experimental diets, in a 2x2 factorial design (C800E0ARA0, C800E0ARA5, C800E200ARA0 and C800E200ARA5) were formulated. And experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of fish averaging 277±7.0g(mean±SD) for 12 weeks. In experiment 2, four experimental diets, in a 2x2 factorial design (C0E0ARA0, C0E0ARA5, C0E200ARA0 and C0E200ARA5) were formulated. And experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of fish averaging 279±9.0g(mean±SD) for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of the feeding trial, combined supplementation of vitamin C, E and/or arachidonic acid could improve growth performance, nonspecific immune responses and liver vitamin concentrations in female broodstock Japanese eel.