Effect of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate on growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes activity, gut microbial community of the hatchling Persian sturgeon (Acipenserpersicus)

Effects of feeding Artemianauplii enriched with PHB (0, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 g/L concentration) on the growth performance, body composition, digestive enzyme activity and hindgut bacterial community in the Persian sturgeon hatchlings were investigated. PHB treatment significantly (p≤ 0.05) decreased growth performances of the hatchlings. The PHB also significantly increased the total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and n6, but decreased the total MUFAs, C18:3n3, n3 and n3/n6. PHB also altered digestive enzyme by significantly decreasing the total protease, amylase, and lipase. Based on molecular analysis, PHB changed the microbial community in the hindgut of the hatchlings where less dominant bands were observed. Our results show that PHB has negative effects on the Persian sturgeon hatchlings. Further studies are needed to find out the optimal concentration of PHB to apply in early larval rearing of sturgeon.