Suplementação de ácido fólico na dieta de fêmeas de jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) em atividade reprodutiva

Abstract

Global fish farming is growing, but the demand and supply of quality fry has been a limiting factor. Studies on reproductive nutrition are promising because meeting nutritional needs has a direct impact on vitellogenesis and consequently on the quality of gametes and offspring. In this approach, folic acid supplementation is interesting because it acts directly on the health, growth, reproduction and quality of offspring. Based on this context, the current work was organized into two chapters. Chapter I presents a review of the current knowledge of folic acid supplementation in aquatic organisms, summarizing the results of research on this topic, with a perspective for the nutrition of fish breeders. In chapter II, the growth, health and main reproductive parameters of jundiá females that were fed a diet supplemented with folic acid were evaluated. As a biological model, R. quelen was used due to its rapid growth, rusticity and easy reproduction. The experimental design of this study was completely randomized, with six levels of folic acid supplementation (0.00, 0.75, 1.50, 2.25, 3.00 and 3.75 mg kg-1) in the diet, with four replicates and the fish were fed for 300 days. In reproduction, folic acid provided greater spawning females, an increase in the hatching rate and a reduction in offspring with malformations. Furthermore, antioxidant activities in the ovary, oocytes and embryo were important for vitellogenic regulation, gonadal maturation and offspring quality. In female health, there was an increase in the number of erythrocytes and thrombocytes in hematology, as well as an increase in total proteins, albumin and globulins in blood serum. On the other hand, alanine aminotransferase and apartate aminotransferase decreased, this set of responses promoted liver protection and improvements in the general physiological state. It is concluded that supplementation of feed with 2.25 and 3.0 mg kg-1 of folic acid is advantageous because it improves redox balance, liver protection, gonadal development, regulates the fatty acid profile and increases erythropoiesis in females. jundiá. Thus, folic acid supplementation can contribute to the production of vigorous and resistant offspring, meeting market demands and contributing to the development of industrial fish farming.