Effect of different levels of Vitamin C on growth indices, some blood parameters, and antioxidant enzymes activity of Schizothorax zarudnyi

In this study, the effect of different levels of vitamin C on growth indices, hematology, and antioxidant enzymes activity was studied in Schizothorax zarudnyi. For this purpose, a total of 144 fish was randomly distributed in 12 fiberglass tanks (12 fish per tanks) and fed with 3 dietary treatments containing 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of vitamin C and a control group without vitamin C for 60 days. The biological parameters of juveniles were measured at the end of the experimental period. To measure liver enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and also blood parameters, blood sampling from the tail vein of fish were performed. The results of growth indices in different treatments did not show a significant difference with the control group (p<0.05). The highest mean final weight, weight gain and specific growth rate, condition factor, body weight gain percentage and lowest feed conversion ratio were observed in 1000 mg/kg vitamin C treatment. The amount of red blood cells in all treatments was significantly different from the control treatment (p<0.05). The highest amount of red blood cells was in the treatment of 1000 mg/kg of vitamin C, which was significantly different from the control group (p <0.05). Also, white blood cell count increased in all treatments and there was a significant difference with the control group (p<0.05). The highest amount of white blood cells was recorded in the treatment of 500 mg/kg of vitamin C. Which had a significant difference with the control group (p<0.05). The alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase had a significant difference with the control group (p<0.05). The antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, total immunoglobulin, and total protein are significantly different from the control group (p<0.05). According to the analysis of the results, it can be acknowledged that vitamin C has a positive effect on blood factors and antioxidant enzymes in Schizothorax zarudnyi.