Influence of age on digestive enzyme activity in some freshwater teleosts

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 148; no. 1; pp. 25 - 37
• Main Author: Kuz mina, V V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 10.12.1996; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: ABRAMIS; ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; AGE; ALIMENTACION DE PECES; ALIMENTATION DES POISSONS; APPAREIL DIGESTIF; Aquaculture; Diet; Digestive enzymes; DIGESTIVE SYSTEM; EDAD; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; ENZYMIC ACTIVITY; ESOX; Fish; FISH FEEDING; Freshwater; Freshwater teleost; PERCA; PERCA (GENERO); RUTILUS; SISTEMA DIGESTIVO; Teleostei; Freshwater teleost; Digestive enzymes; Age
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/S0044-8486(96)01370-1

In the fish studied (pike, perch, bream, roach) carbohydrase activity varied more than protease and alkaline phosphatase activity with age. These changes, as a rule, were influenced by changes in fish feeding preference (from initial planktophages to predators and benthophages). In predatory pike, amylolytic, α-amylase and sucrase activity decreased but proteolytic activity increased abruptly at early stages of development. In older age groups of the predator-facultative benthophage perch, carbohydrase activities were lower than those observed in juveniles. In benthophages (bream and roach), amylolytic and α-amylase activities fluctuated but sucrase activity increased with age. Total enzyme activity (activity X total intestinal mucosa weight) in specific cases increased with age. Relative total enzyme activity (g −1 body weight), as a rule, was highest in age 0 + to 3 + fish. For the nutritionist, relative total enzyme activity is a more informative index of the supply of fish digestive enzymes than the standard enzyme activity which is usually reported.