Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α stimulated lipid catabolism in liver of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

In aquaculture, excess lipid deposition in liver is a health damage in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) has been proved to stimulate lipid catabolism and alleviate fatty liver in rodents and human. Our present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Pparα activation via dietary fenofibrate stimulation on hepatic lipid catabolism in largemouth bass. Total 240 fish (10.7 ± 0.2 g) were randomly divided into eight tanks and fed two diets (control and control containing 5 g/kg fenofibrate), respectively, for 4 weeks. Dietary fenofibrate increased Pparα protein and mitochondrial DNA amounts. The weight gain rate and carcass ratio of fish with Pparα activation decreased, but viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index were higher in the fenofibrate-fed fish than the control. Pparα activation significantly reduced triglyceride levels in the serum and liver but did not change the lipid composition in liver. Moreover, hepatic glycogen accumulation was found in the fish with Pparα activation. The Pparα activation also had health benefits for liver, as reflected by reducing serum ALT and AST activities, and increasing antioxidative ability in liver. Our results showed that in largemouth bass, Pparα can be activated and the Pparα activation could efficiently stimulate lipid catabolism and reduce hepatic fat deposition, and promote health in liver.