Methyl donors potentiates growth, metabolic status and neurotransmitter enzyme in Labeo rohita fingerlings exposed to endosulfan and temperature.

A 2-month preliminary study was conducted to delineate the effect of dietary methyl donors (choline, betaine, and lecithin) on the growth performance and metabolic status of Labeo rohita fingerlings subjected to endosulfan alone and in combination with elevated temperature. Four iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets viz. basal diet, betaine-supplemented diet, choline-supplemented diet and lecithin-supplemented diet were prepared and fed to the different experimental groups throughout the experimental period as per the design. Two hundred and seventy fingerlings (average weight 7.95 ± 0.04 g) were randomly distributed in six treatment groups each having three replicates. The experimental groups were as follows: fish subjected to normal water (without endosulfan) and fed with control diet (control group T(0)), fish subjected to endosulfan-treated water and fed with control diet (T(1)), fish subjected to concurrent exposure of endosulfan and elevated temperature and fed with control diet (T(2)), fish subjected to endosulfan and elevated temperature and fed with choline-supplemented diet (T(3)), fish subjected to endosulfan and temperature and fed with betaine-supplemented feed (T(4)), and fish subjected to endosulfan and temperature and fed with lecithin-supplemented feed (T(5)). The result shows that in both the groups, that is, endosulfan exposed and concurrent exposure to endosulfan and elevated temperature group of L. rohita the growth performance like percentage weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rates were significantly different (P < 0.01) when fed with supplemented diet compared with control fed group. The liver LDH and MDH activity were significantly lower in lecithin, betaine, and choline fed groups. The muscle AST as well as G6PDH, AST, and ALT did not vary but liver ALT, gill and liver ATPase, intestine ALP, muscle and liver glycogen varied significantly with dietary supplementation. The liver and gill glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were significantly lower in methyl donors-supplemented groups and brain AChE activity showed lower inhibition in supplemented groups in both endosulfan alone and concurrently exposed endosulfan and temperature groups. The result obtained in this study concludes that inclusion of methyl donors, particularly lecithin and betaine in feed as nutritional supplements have potential to improve growth and stress mitigating effect in L. rohita fingerlings.