Effect of dietary administration of Lactobacillus casei on vitellogenin gene expression in female zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The present study investigates the effect of different levels of probiotic Lactobasillus casei on expression of vitellogenin (Vtg) gene in Zebrafish (Danio rerio). For this purpose, Zebrafish with average weight of 0.15±0.01 gr fed on diet supplemented with 0%, 105, 106 and 107CFU/gr of probiotic for 6 weeks. After this period and sex determination, females fed with probiotic for 1 month. At the end of feeding trial, RNA extracted from liver and brain, cDNA synthesized with Superscript RTase kit and PCR were done using Vtg primer and Beta-actin as housekeeping gene. Evaluation reproduction gene expression showed increase in fish fed probiotic compare to control. Vtg gene expression showed significant increases in fish fed 106 and 107CFU/gr of probiotic compared to 105. According to the results it seems that using probiotic could consider as a new strategy for improving reproductive performance.