The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term fasting and refeeding on the growth and antioxidant defenses in the liver and serum in Yangtze sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus). The results showed that body mass and hepatosomatic index significantly decreased with long-term fasting, but they could be recovered after 4 weeks refeeding. Compared with controls, the antioxidant defense parameters of starvation indicated that the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased significantly in both tissues; the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased obviously in serum and liver, respectively (p < 0.05). However, the activities of catalase (CAT) always decreased in two tissues including liver and serum during the whole starvation, as was the SOD in the liver (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the T-AOC levels of Yangtze sturgeon presented higher at early stage of starvation and dropped down at the end of starvation (p < 0.05). However, all of the antioxidant index above returned to origin level after 4 weeks refeeding. In conclusion, the present study indicated that long-time fasting induced oxidative stress in Yangtze sturgeon and it may easily adjust their physiological status under situations characterized by a long-term starvation and refeeding.
Keywords: Oxidative defenses; Refeeding; Starvation; Yangtze sturgeon.