Effects of starvation and re-feeding on recovery of digestive enzyme capacity in Sobeity (Sparidentex hasta) marine fish

In this study, the ability of the Sobeity fish to regulate and restore the capacity of digestive enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase) during different periods of starvation and re-feeding was studied for 80- day period. 300 fish with an average initial weight of 28.47±0.24 g was stocked in twelve 300-liter polyethylene tanks. In four experimental treatments, including treatment 1 (T1), the fish were starved for two days and fed for eight days; in treatment 2 (T2), the fish were starved for four days and fed for sixteen days; in treatment 3 (T3), the fish were starved for eight days and fed for thirty-three days. The cycles were repeated eight times for the T1, four times for the T2, and two times for the T3 until the end of the experiment (80 days). The control treatment was also fed to satiety throughout the experiment. At the end of the period of starvation, the activity level of trypsin and chymotrypsin in the control treatment was significantly higher than other treatments (P<0.05). The lipase activity level in the first cycle of T1 and T2 did not significantly different from the control treatment. However, the lipase enzyme activity in the midpoint cycle of T2 was significantly lower than control (P<0.05). At the end of days 40 and 80, no significant difference was observed in the activities of three digestive enzymes between the control and the experimental treatments. The present study showed that Sparidentex hasta can cover their digestive capacity after overcoming various periods of starvation..