Email this article (Login required)
Email the author (Login required) Effects of dietary astaxanthin and β-carotene on gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices, gonad and liver composition in goldfish Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) broodstocks
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol44-issue2-fulltext-17
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of two source carotenoids on the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of the goldfish (Carassius auratus). For this experiment, six diets containing concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg carotenoid kg-1 of synthetic astaxanthin and β-carotene were added to a basic carp diet, while one group of fish was fed a control diet (no added carotenoids). Fiberglass tanks were used for the study, which was performed from January to April of 2013. During the breeding period, the hepatosomatic (HSI) and gonadosomatic (GSI) indices were exa- mined monthly, along with the total carotenoid levels in the ovaries and livers of female goldfish broodstock. A significant positive correlation was observed between total carotenoids in both the liver and ovary tissues and GSI after 90 and 120 days of the experiment. The HSI was not affected by the carotenoid-enriched diets. However, the carotenoid-enriched diets resulted in greater accumulation of carotenoids in the gonads. β-carotene-enriched diets (B150) led to greater accumulation of carotenoids in the liver after 90 days. Lastly, we found that diets containing higher levels of astaxanthin and β-carotene improve the GSI in goldfish broodstock.
