RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH
1. Fish-breeding results are shown in Tab.1
During the period of experiment, no clinical and pathology-anatomical sings of any kind of
disease were noticed both in the experimental and control groups of the fishes. The survival of
the fishes in both groups was high and corresponded to fish-farming and technological norms. In
both groups (experiment & control) the feeding activeness of fishes was high. At the same time
individual and relative average growth rate per day of sturgeons in the experimental group was
by far higher (by 69%) than in the control group. Quantity of feeds consumed per unit weight
gain in the experimental groups also turned out to be far lower (30%) than in the control group.
Fish-breeding parameters of marketable sturgeons Table 1.
Parameters
Number fishes
Survival
Average weight of fishes
- at the beginning of experiment
- at the end of experiment
Relative average growth rate per
day of fishes.
Overall weight gain of fishes
Feeding
Consumed feeds per unit weight
gain of fishes
Unit of
measurements
Control
Experiment
%
600
99.3
610
99.2
g
g
600
790
520
750
%
0.546
0.771
kg.
kg
113.6
439 (for 60days)
3.9
139.6
390(for 47 days)
2.8
2. The estimation of immune-physiological condition of fishes in experimental and control
groups carried out using materials of hematological analysis at the end of the experiment.
Results of the analysis showed that introduction of NatuRose practically did not change the
biochemical parameters, and poorly affected the erythrocytes in the blood of fishes in the
experimental group Table 2. Thus the parameters of carbohydrate and protein metabolism
(accordingly the contents of glucose and general protein of serum) remained constant at a high
level, while some decrease in the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in fishes of the
experimental group did not affect the norm level of haemotopoiesis.
Effect of carotenoid additives in feeds on blood parameters of marketable sturgeons.
Table 2.
Parameters
Control
Experiment (NR) astaxanthin
Glucose, mg%
Protein, %
Hemoglobin, g/litre
Erythrocytes, million/microlitre
Erythropoiesis, %
- basophiles erythrocytes
Polychromatophilic erythrocytes
Overall young erythrocytes
108,9 ±3,89
3,13 ±0,14
87,9 ± 2,78
0,887 ± 0,05
0,29 ±0,1 7
108,0 ±1,33
3,07 ± 0,24
78,4 ± 3,47
0,71 9 ±0,04*
0,26 ± 0,07
2,54 ± 0,68
2,83 ± 0,78
2,19 ± 0,42
2,45 ± 0,47
At the same time astaxanthin additive considerably activated leucopoiesis in fishes in the
experimental group table 3, whose number of leucocytes increased by 30% compared to the
control group.
3. An estimation of the contents of carotenoids in muscular tissue of sturgeons in control and
experimental groups was carried out at the State Scientific Research Institute of Biosynthesis
of Protein Substances – FGYP “GOSNIISINTEZBELOK” (appendix 1). It confirmed
considerably a higher accumulation of carotinoids (by 49-60%) in fishes that received
NatuRose. Thus the meat of fishes in the experimental group got attractive golden-yellowish
shade (as it’s obtainable in matured fishes from natural reservoirs), which differentiated it
from the white color muscles of fishes in the control group.
Effect of carotenoids on leucocytes structure of blood in marketable sturgeons Table 3.
Parameters
Control
Overall number of Leucocytes
36,5 ± 2,69
Young Neutrophils, %
1,33 ±0,41
Young Neutrophils, n/microlitre
486
Matured Neutrophils, %
22,8 ± 2,76
Matured Neutrophils, n/microlitre
8322
Overall number of Neutrophils, %
24,1 ± 2,76
Overall number of Neutrophils,
8800
n/microlitre
Eosinophils, %
5,67 ±1,39
Eosinophils, n/microlitre
2069
Monocytes, %
3,89 ± 0,59
Monocytes, n/microlitre
1420
Lymphocytes, %
66,4 ±3,54
Lymphocytes, thousand/microlitre
24,2
NatuRose (astaxanthin)
50,8 ± 5,65*
0,33 ± 0,24
168
14,3 ± 2,0*
7264
14,63 ± 2,0*
7432
5,56 ±1,16
2824
2,33 ± 0,33*
1184
77,4 ± 1,9*
39,3*
* - Authenticity in relation to control group.
The contents and Preservation of carotenoids in the granular fish feeds after introduction
of NatuRose in form of oil solution.
This method of introduction in granular fish feeds for fat-soluble preparation (specimen)
together with vegetable oil or fish fat is the most commonly used in fishery farms and
establishments. Initially the recommended dosage of astaxanthin for marketable fishes was
introduced in their feeds – 100 mg/kg. Proceeding from the contents of astaxanthin in Naturose –
1.35%, 7.4g of the preparation (specimen) was taken and mixed with 50 ml. of vegetable oil.
After a day’s extrusion of the oil with the preparation, it was carefully mixed and introduced into
1kg granular sturgeon feeds (Recipe RGM-5VM).
Initial (control) feeds and part of experimental feeds with the preparation (specimen) –100g each
was submitted the same day for analysis to determine the contents of carotinoids. Analysis of the
second part of the experimental feeds with the preparation (NR) was carried out after 7 days of
keeping it in a darkroom under the temperature of 5-10 Celsius. The results shown in appendix 2
first confirmed the increase of carotinoids after the introduction of NatuRose, secondly they
were almost completely retained in the feeds during the 7 days’ of storage under the above stated
conditions.
CONCLUSION
The first experiments of the effect of NatuRose, which were carried out on sturgeons made it
possible to reveal its high growth-stimulating effect. Consumed feeds per unit weight gain of
marketable sturgeons, which received with feeds only extra 90mg NR (or 1.2mg astaxanthin) per
1kg body weight per day, turned out to be 40% lower than the control group. Besides by
introducing NatuRose in the feeds, we recorded a great increase in the number of leucocytes,
mainly due to lymphocytes - the most significant link in immune system of fishes.
Additional accumulation of carotenoids in muscular tissue (which also means Vit.A and better
pigmentation) no doubt raised the quality of the sturgeon products bred in high-intensity fishbreeding farms. The obtained results though have preliminary character, are extremely
interesting and make NatuRose rather perspective for further research. NatuRose could be used
in wide range of experiments and industrial tests to establish fish breeding and biological effect
on different kinds of fishes and water invertebrate, and to estimate the economical effect of its
application in aqua culture in the Russian Federation.
Appendix 1 analysis of fish carcass to determine the contents of carotenoids. Samples of 22.09.03
Control
Experiment
Mass fraction of dry substances, %
30,0
32,1
The contents carotenoids, mg / kg
• In meat of fishes at natural humidity
• In absolutely dry meat of fishes
0,95.
3,17
1,52
4,73
Appendix 2 Chemical analytical research of samples of feeds for fishes
Samples
contents of carotenoids mg/100g
Sample I (control without Naturose)
5.5
Sample 2 after introduction of Naturose
81.9
Sample 3 after 7 days of storage
79.9