Synergistic effect of dietary selenium nanoparticles and riboflavin on the enhanced thermal efficiency of fish against multiple stress factors

Abstract

An experiment was designed to delineate the efficacy of a dietary mixture of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and riboflavin (RF) on the thermal efficiency/tolerance of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus reared under arsenic (2.8 mg/L) and high-temperature (34 °C) stress. A green synthesis method was employed for the synthesis of Se-NPs using fish gills, which are normally discarded as by-products. Four isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets were used, namely, a control diet (Se-NPs and RF @ 0 mg/kg diet) and diets containing RF @ 5, 10 or 15 mg/kg diet and Se-NPs @ 0.5 mg/kg diet, and feeding was performed for 95 days. At the end of the feeding trial, the thermal tolerance was evaluated by determination of the following parameters: critical thermal minimum (CTMin), lethal thermal minimum (LTMin), critical thermal maximum (CTMax), and lethal thermal maximum (LTMax). The anti-oxidative status in the form of catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities was significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced upon concurrent exposure to arsenic and high temperature at LTMin and LTMax, whereas a non-significant (p > 0.05) change in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed in the brain at LTMin and brain, gill and kidney at LTMax. Supplementation with Se-NPs @ 0.5 mg/kg diet and RF @ 5, 10 or 15 mg/kg diet significantly (p < 0.01) improved the anti-oxidative status with or without stressors. AChE activity in the brain was significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited upon concurrent exposure to arsenic and high temperature and improved in the treatment group supplemented with Se-NPs and RF. The arsenic concentration in muscle and experimental water and Se concentration in muscle and experimental feed were analysed. Overall, the results indicated that supplementation with RF @ 5 mg/kg diet and Se-NPs @ 0.5 mg/kg diet could confer protection to the fish against arsenic and thermal stress and led to enhanced thermal efficiency/tolerance of P. hypophthalmus.

Keywords: Abiotic stress; Acetylcholine esterase; Anti-oxidative status; Nanoparticles; Thermal tolerance.