Ontogenetic changes in dry weight, elemental composition (CHN), and digestive enzyme activities (total protease, amylase) were studied during the moulting cycle of all larval instars (zoea I-II, megalopa; ZI, ZII, M) of the spider crab Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922 reared in the laboratory. A gradual but significant increase in biomass was observed throughout the zoeal instars, followed by ste...

This study investigated the effects of short-term subclinical Zn deficiency on exocrine pancreatic activity and changes in digestive capacity. A total of forty-eight weaned piglets were fed ad libitum a basal diet (maize and soyabean meal) with adequate Zn supply (88 mg Zn/kg diet) during a 2-week acclimatisation phase. Animals were then assigned to eight dietary treatment groups (n 6) accordin...

In culture operations, the efficiency of a feed in promoting maximum growth in animal depends not only on its nutritive profile, but also on the animal’s inherent ability to consume, digest, absorb and metabolize the nutrients from the feed. Nutrient utilization in aquatic animals depends on the activity of their digestive enzymes [1,2]. Digestive processes in fish are less known than in animal...

Apostichopus japonicus is a common sea cucumber that undergoes seasonal inactivity phases and ceases feeding during the summer months. We used this sea cucumber species as a model in which to examine phenotypic plasticity of the digestive tract in response to food deprivation. We measured the body mass, gross gut morphology and digestive enzyme activities of A. japonicus before, during, and aft...

Intracellular activation of pancreatic digestive enzymes by lysosomal hydrolases is thought to be an early event in the pathogenesis of pancreatic injury. As ethanol excess is an important association of pancreatitis, experimental work has been directed towards exploring possible mechanisms whereby ethanol may facilitate contact between inactive digestive enzyme precursors and lysosomal enzymes...

This study was conducted to determine effects of dietary administration of different levels of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract on digestive enzymes activity and liver composition of Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi during eight weeks. In this respect, 192 M. sharpeyi fingerlings (with initial weight 11.67 ± 0.32 g) were divided into three ginger extract (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%) treatment group...