The Effect of Dietary Addition of a Synbiotic After Long-Term Starvation on Certain Biochemical Parameters and Liver Structure in Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio L.)

Abstract The prolonged starvation has many effects on the physiological and morphological processes in fish and interferes them with the ability to absorb nutrients and caloric intake. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of long-term starvation and posterior dietary administration of commercial synbiotic consisting fructoligosaccharide (FOS) which used in combination with Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lactococcus spp. for evaluation on some blood biochemical parameters and histological characteristics of common carp liver. Experimental fish after 5 months starvation period were subjected to the following feeding protocols: continuous starvation until 60 day (ST), re-feeding (FS) with dry composed diet (Aqua 1032 Swim) and refeeding with composed diet and synbiotic (FSS) for the following 60 days. Blood samples were used for analysis of the following plasma parameters: total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, AST, ALT, glucose and serum for thyroid hormones. Histology analyses were performed on the carp liver samples. During the experimental period, fasting and refeeding were influenced significant on studied biochemical parameters, except glucose and urea. Also, the statistically largest (P <0.001) difference was observed in albumin and cholesterol values after refeeding. Our results reveal the changes in values of biochemical parameters during long-term starvation and refeeding with synbiotic and indicate signs of structural alterations of the liver in common carp.