Dietary astaxanthin supplementation improves semen quality and systemic physiological health in pubertal male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
- 2026-04
- Fish physiology and biochemistry 52(2)
- Patrick Gomes Avelino
- Yugo Moraes Pastrana
- Amanda Pereira de Amaral
- Felipe Mendes de Souza
- Gerlayne Maria Dos Santos
- Josiane Ramos da Silva
- Vivian Costa Vasconcelos
- Guilherme Melgaço Heluy
- Romero Marcos Pedrosa Brandão Costa
- Maria do Carmo Mohaupt Marques Ludke
- Juliana Ferreira Dos Santos
- Ranilson de Souza Bezerra
- PubMed: 41973266
- DOI: 10.1007/s10695-026-01677-1
Study Design
- Population
- pubertal male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus
- Methods
- Fish allocated to 16 tanks, fed for 45 days with diets containing 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg astaxanthin; four replicate tanks per treatment.
- Duration
- 45 days
- Funding
- Unclear
- Animal Study
This study evaluated the effects of dietary astaxanthin on sperm quality and physiological indicators of pubertal male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). Fish (32.42 ± 0.51 g) were allocated to 16 tanks in recirculating aquaculture system (220 L; 5 fish tank-1), with four replicate tanks per dietary treatment, and fed for 45 days with diets containing 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg kg-1 astaxanthin derived from microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis. Astaxanthin supplementation markedly improved seminal traits: males receiving 50-150 mg kg-1 exhibited significantly greater semen volume, sperm concentration and motility, and a higher proportion of morphologically normal sperm than controls (P < 0.05). Semen from supplemented groups also showed reduced catalase activity and malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05), indicating lower oxidative stress. Growth performance and survival did not differ among treatments (P > 0.05). Hematologically, astaxanthin, particularly at 100-150 mg kg-1, increased lymphocyte proportions while decreasing circulating neutrophils, monocytes, and thrombocytes (P < 0.05). Serum biochemistry indicated changes in metabolic status at 100-150 mg kg-1, with reduced glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, and elevated total protein, albumin, and globulin (P < 0.05). Collectively, these findings indicate that dietary astaxanthin, particularly at 100-150 mg kg-1, supports semen quality and physiological status in pubertal male Nile tilapia without compromising growth.
Research Insights
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