Dietary bile acid supplementation reveals beneficial effects on intestinal healthy status of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semiliaevis)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BAs) on intestinal healthy status of tongue sole in terms of immunity, antioxidant status, digestive ability, mucosal barrier-related genes expression and microbiota. Three experimental diets were prepared with BA levels at 0 mg/kg (CT), 300 mg/kg (BA1) and 900 mg/kg (BA2) in a commercial basal diet. Each diet was fed to three replicates with 120 fish (10.87 ± 0.32 g) in each tank. After an 8-week feeding trial, growth parameters were significantly enhanced in both BAs supplementary groups ( P < 0.05), and compared with CT group, survival rate in BA2 group was significantly improved ( P < 0.05). Intestinal lysozyme activity and contents of immunoglobulin M and complement 3 were significantly increased in both BAs supplementary groups ( P < 0.05), suggesting an enhancement effect on the non-specific immune response. BAs inclusion also significantly improved intestinal antioxidant capabilities by increasing antioxidase activities and decreasing malondialdehyde levels. In addition, compared with CT group, intestinal digestive ability was substantially enhanced as indicated by the significantly increased lipase activity in BA2 group ( P < 0.05) and significantly increased amylase activity in BA1 and BA2 groups ( P < 0.05). Coincidentally, BAs inclusion significantly upregulated the relative expression of intestinal mucosal barrier-related genes ( P < 0.05). Further, dietary BAs distinctly remodeled intestinal microbiota by decreased the abundance of some potential pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, dietary BAs supplementation is an effective way to improve the intestinal healthy status of tongue sole. • Dietary bile acid (BA) can significantly improve the growth performance and survival of tongue sole. • BA inclusion can significantly enhance intestinal non-specific immune response, antioxidant capability and digestive ability. • BA inclusion significantly upregulated the relative expression of intestinal mucosal barrier-related genes. • Dietary BA distinctly remodeled intestinal microbiota by decreased the abundance of some potential pathogenic bacteria.