Effects of Iron and Vitamin C on Growth Performance, Iron Utilization, Antioxidant Capacity, Nonspecific Immunity, and Disease Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

作者：Song, Ying; Cai, Xinyu; Bu, Xianyong; Liu, Shubin; Song, Mingqi; Yang, Yiwen; Wang, Xiaodan^*; Shi, Qingchao; Qin, Jianguang; Chen, Liqiao^*

来源：AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, 2023, 2023: 7228854.

DOI：10.1155/2023/7228854

• ASCORBIC-ACID
• DIETARY
• ABSORPTION
• METABOLISM
• PURIFICATION
• TRANSFERRIN
• EXPRESSION
• HEMOLYMPH
• PROTEIN

Iron is an essential trace element with an abroad physiological function, and iron deficiency can impair animal health. Vitamin C (VC) has the potential to release iron from diets and increase iron uptake. This study evaluates the effects of dietary iron and vitamin C on the growth performance, iron utilization, antioxidant capacity, and nonspecific immunity of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). Juvenile E. sinensis (1.14 +/- 0.01 g) were fed six diets supplemented with three levels of iron (41.40, 92.25, and 143.00 mg/kg), and each iron level supplemented either 4.33 mg/kg or 700.90 mg/kg of vitamin C for 8 weeks. Crabs fed 41.40 mg/kg of iron diet had the lowest weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) and had the highest feed conversion rate (FCR) regardless of dietary vitamin C levels. Dietary 700.90 mg/kg of vitamin C improved WG and SGR but decreased FCR when the diets were supplemented with 41.40 and 143.00 mg/kg of iron (P < 0.05). Dietary 700.90 mg/kg of vitamin C significantly improved the expression levels of divalent metal ion transporter 1, ferroportin, and iron regulation protein in the intestine and hepatopancreas when supplemented with 92.25 and 143.00 mg/kg of iron (P < 0.05) and enhanced the transferrin content in hemolymph and iron deposition in the hepatopancreas when supplemented with 92.25 and 143.00 mg/kg of iron (P < 0.05). Crabs fed the diet supplemented with 41.40 mg/kg of iron had the highest malondialdehyde content and the lowest superoxide dismutase activity in the hepatopancreas. Dietary 700.90 mg/kg of vitamin C supplementation also increased the acid phosphatase and bacteriolytic activity when diets were supplemented with 41.40 and 143.00 mg/kg of iron (P < 0.05). In addition, crabs fed 143.00 mg/kg of iron and 700.90 mg/kg of vitamin C diet had the highest survival rate after the Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. This study demonstrates that dietary 700.90 mg/kg of vitamin C could promote iron absorption and utilization, thereby increasing the growth, immunity, and disease resistance of E. sinensis.