Effects of Starvation Re-feeding on Growth and Metabolism of Schizothorax grahami

Purpose To investigate the effects of different re-feeding models following starvation on the growth and metabolism of Schizothorax grahami.

Methods A total of 144 S. grahami with an average body weight of (51.96±0.46) g were selected for this study. Four feeding models were set: periodic fasting for one day, two days, three days followed by feeding for six days (model 1), five days (model 2), four days (model 3), respectively, and continuous feeding were set as control group. Samples were collected on days seven and 14 for measurement of serum biochemical parameters and expression of metabolism-related genes, and the observation of histological characteristics of liver and intestines was carried out.

Results 1) Model 1 treated for seven days induced compensatory growth in S. grahami; model 2 and model 3 resulted in negative growth, with a significant reduction in hepatobody ratio after 14 days. 2) Feeding under model 3 resulted in significantly higher triglyceride (seven days) and total cholesterol (14 days) levels in S. grahami compared to the control group. 3) The re-feeding treatment after starvation at seven and 14 days significantly affected intestinal histological structure. Villus height, villus width and muscularis thickness of intestine were different from the control group. 4) After seven days of starvation re-feeding, g6pc1a, pparb, lpl, and pparaa expression levels of liver in S. grahami under model 3 were significantly higher than other groups; after 14 days of starvation re-feeding, g6pc1a and lpl expression levels under model 3 remained significantly higher than other groups, but pparaa expression level in the control group was significant higher than other groups.

Conclusion All three starvation re-feeding models affect the growth and metabolism of S. grahami to varying degrees. Among these, the model involving starvation for three days followed by re-feeding for four days significantly impacts the normal physiological functions of S. grahami. Consequently, starvation for three days is the critical threshold for metabolic regulation in S. grahami.