Journal article
Effects of dietary fat levels on the liver metabolism and reproduction in tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)
Aquaculture reports, Vol.48, 103667
2026
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of dietary fat levels on growth, ovarian development, and the molecular responses in tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Fish were fed either 8%-low (LFG), 12%-normal (NFG), or 16%-high-fat (HFG) diets for two months. Compared with NFG, the HFG significantly enhanced growth performance (body weight, length, and weight gain rate) and improved ovarian development, evidenced by a higher proportion of oocytes developing to stages Ⅳ and Ⅴ and elevated serum estradiol (E2) levels. Notably, this phenomenon is accompanied by a reduction in hepatic crude fat, which may suggest active lipid metabolism and export to support growth and reproduction. These results were also supported by transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. The liver, as the metabolic hub, showed widespread changes in gene expression. In contrast, ovarian responses were more specialized. In the HFG, ovarian pathways for steroid hormone biosynthesis, calcium signaling, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions were enriched, explaining the enhanced E2 levels and oocyte maturation. Metabolomics further demonstrated altered profiles of key fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and docosapentaenoic acid in both liver and ovaries. Conversely, the LFG group exhibited co-enrichment in the ferroptosis signaling pathway within the ovaries and liver, suggesting that a low-fat diet induces nutritional stress that may impair reproductive function. In conclusion, a high-fat diet promotes growth and ovarian development in tongue sole through optimized energy allocation and hormonal regulation, while a low-fat diet may trigger ovarian metabolic stress via ferroptosis. These findings provide crucial insights for formulating optimized broodstock diets in aquaculture.
Details
- Title
- Effects of dietary fat levels on the liver metabolism and reproduction in tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)
- Authors/Creators
- Xin Cai - Chinese Academy of Fishery SciencesZhaojun Meng - Zhejiang UniversityYing Liu - Qingdao Marine Management Support Center, Qingdao 266071, ChinaJichang Zheng - Chinese Academy of Fishery SciencesLe Ma - Murdoch UniversityXiaoyu Sun - Chinese Academy of Fishery SciencesYongjiang Xu - Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
- Publication Details
- Aquaculture reports, Vol.48, 103667
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V.
- Number of pages
- 15
- Identifiers
- 991005886482107891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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