1,3‐1‐6 ß‐glucans enhance tissue regeneration in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Potential advantages for aquaculture applications

by João Fernando Albers Koch, Global Technical Manager, Biorigin

In intensive aquaculture, the animals need to be handled for several purposes (eg fish grading, tank transfers, transportation and others) and during these processes tissues get damaged and also skin wounds frequently occur.

These kinds of injuries may result in the onset of secondary infections that may impair not only fish growth but also survival. When injury or tissue damage occurs, a complex cascade of signals activates inflammatory responses. Specifically, macrophages secrete growth factors and cytokines that attract keratinocytes and fibroblasts to trigger both tissue repair and scar formation (Yoshinari & Kawakami, 2011).
 

In zebrafish, the starting phase of the wound re‐epithelialisation starts with the migration of inflammatory cells and the formation of granulation tissue consisting of macrophages, fibroblasts, blood vessels and collagen (Richardson et al., 2013). Furthermore, it is important to highlight zebrafish have an outstanding ability to regenerate amputated fins and lesioned internal organs, such as the brain, heart and other tissues. Considering this, zebrafish is considered one of the most important animal models for tissue regeneration studies and aquaculture research.

Recently, to cope with injuries that occurs during fish rearing and handling, the aqua feed industry has been able to employ a wide range of immuno‐active feed ingredients and additives to induce innate immune system and macrophage activation. One of the most studied group of immuno‐active feed ingredients are the β‐glucans, that are characterised as homopolymers of glucose having a linear structure (1,3‐β‐d‐glycosidic linkages) or a branched one with bound side chains (1,6‐β‐d‐glycosidic linkages).

Read more, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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