# Dietary Histidine Supplementation Maintained Amino Acid Homeostasis and Reduced Hepatic Lipid Accumulation of Juvenile Largemouth Bass,Micropterus Salmoides

Authors: Hualiang Liang; Gangchun Xu; Pao Xu; Jian Zhu; Songlin Li; Mingchun Ren
Journal: Aquaculture Nutrition
 (2022)

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## Abstract

This 56-day research aimed to evaluate the recommended histidine requirement and the influence of dietary histidine levels on the protein and lipid metabolism of juvenile largemouth bass (Mieropterus salmoides). The initial weight of the largemouth bass was 12.33±0.01g, which was fed with six graded levels of histidine. The results showed that appropriate dietary histidine had a positive effect on growth, with a higher specific growth rate, final weight, weight gain rate, protein efficiency rate, and a lower feed conversion rate and feed intake rate being observed in 1.08-1.48% dietary histidine groups. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of GH, IGF-1, TOR, and S6 showed an increasing trend first and then declined, similar to the trend of the growth and protein content of the whole body composition. Meanwhile, dietary histidine levels could be sensed by the AAR signaling pathway, representing as downregulation of core genes of AAR signaling pathway with the increased dietary histidine levels, including GCN2, eIF2α, CHOP, ATF4, and REDD1. In addition, increased dietary histidine levels decreased the lipid content of the whole body and the liver by upregulating the mRNA levels of core genes of the PPARα signaling pathways, including PPARα, CPT1, L-FABP, and PGC1α. However, increased dietary histidine levels downregulated the mRNA levels of core genes of the PPARγ signaling pathways such as PPARγ, FAS, ACC, SREBP1, and ELOVL2. These findings were also supported by the positive area ratio of hepatic oil red O staining and the TC content of plasma. According to the specific growth rate and feed conversion rate, the recommended histidine requirement of juvenile largemouth bass was 1.26% of the diet (2.68% of dietary protein) by regression lines calculated using a quadratic model. In general, histidine supplementation promoted protein synthesis and lipid decomposition and reduced lipid synthesis by activating the TOR, AAR, PPARα, and PPARγ signaling pathways, which provided a new perspective to solve the fatty liver problem of largemouth bass by nutritional means.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

There are many factors affecting the growth of farmed fish, and the food availability is considered the most important one [1]. Feed cost is usually the highest recurring cost in the total cost of fish culture. Hence, controlling the balance of feed nutrition while reducing feed cost is the key to commercial success of aquaculture [2]. The protein level of a fish is very important to its overall nutrition. The importance of nutritional protein has been established by a gradient culture experiment of dietary essential amino acids that observed their effects on growth performance [3]. Amino acids are substrates for protein synthesis and key regulators of many important metabolic pathways. Thus, they are essential nutrients for fish [4], and deficiency of essential amino acids could result in the inadequate utilization of dietary protein, which leads to poor weight gain, feed efficiency and disease resistance [5].Since aquatic animals have poor capacities for the synthesis of endogenous histidine, it is considered one of the essential amino acids of fish [6], playing an indispensable role in regulating growth, protein synthesis, hemoglobin synthesis, tissue formation, immune response, etc. [5, 7, 8]. In previous studies, histidine requirements of numerous fishes have been identified, such as Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)) (1.35% of dietary protein) [2], grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) (3.2% of dietary protein) [6], Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (3.1% of dietary protein) [8], red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) (1.6% of dietary protein) [9], Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) (2.38% of dietary protein) [10], and large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea R) (1.88-2.08% of dietary protein) [11]. Indeed, when histidine is deficient, the growth performance of many fish species would be inhibited. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to determine the optimal dietary histidine requirements apart from the true protein requirements of farmed fish.There are two known signaling pathways that can sense amino acid content, one is target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling system that senses amino acid abundance, and the other is amino acid response (AAR) signaling pathway that senses amino acid balance [12]. Some studies have shown that when amino acids are abundant, TOR senses amino acid levels and is activated to enhance protein synthesis by affecting the downstream core genes AKT, S6, and 4EBBP1, however, when amino acid is deficient, TOR signaling pathway is inhibited, and AAR signaling is activated and regulating the expression of core genes GCN2, eIF2, CHOP, ATF4, and REDD1, which are involved in the synthesis and breakdown of proteins at the systemic level and maintaining the amino acid homeostasis [13–18]. Previous studies have confirmed that grass carp and blunt snout bream could sense dietary histidine levels by TOR signialing pathway [13, 19, 20]. However, researches on AAR signaling pathway sensing dietary histidine levels were insufficient. Nevertheless, in other studies of amino acids, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) was found to be able to sense the levels of dietary methionine and lysine to regulate protein synthesis and maintain the balance of amino acids through TOR and AAR signaling pathways [17, 18]. Similar results have also been reported in Indian major carp [2], fingerling Indian catfish [7], juvenile blunt snout bream [13], and Catla (Catla catla) (Hamilton) [21]. Furthermore, many studies have found that amino acid/protein is also involved in regulating lipid metabolism in fish. For example, arginine, leucine, and tryptophan were found to regulate lipid metabolism in blunt snout bream [22–24]. Protein and lysine were also found to regulate lipid metabolism in grass carp [25, 26], and protein and methionine were found to regulate lipid metabolism in juvenile genetically-improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) [27, 28]. These processes might be related with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) signaling pathways [29, 30].Largemouth bass is native to freshwater rivers and large lakes in America, especially the Great Lakes in the United States. It has been widely raised around the world because of its tender meat and delicious taste, and loved by consumers and sold well in the international market, known as “Freshwater grouper”. As far as China is concerned, production of largemouth bass has reached 619, 000 tons in 2020 [31]. Hence, researchers are paying more and more attention to the nutritional requirements of largemouth bass, in an effort to provide theoretical basis for the development of its compound feed. Some amino acid requirements for largemouth bass have been identified already such as lysine [32, 33] and threonine [34]. However, research on histidine requirement is still blank. Meanwhile, carnivorous fish are more sensitive to dietary carbohydrate levels, which can easily cause the disorder of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism [35]. Largemouth bass, as a typical carnivorous fish, often encounters metabolic disorders, resulting in hepatic lipid accumulation and even liver function lesions, thus inhibiting growth and leading to death [36]. In particular, the fatty liver problems of largemouth bass have been troubling the growth and nutrition metabolism of the fish. In recent years, amino acids’ important role in regulating lipid metabolism has been largely studied [26, 28, 32], however, the regulation of histidine on lipid metabolism of largemouth bass has not been studied. Therefore, this 56-day research was carried out to evaluate the recommended histidine requirement and the regulation of dietary histidine levels on the metabolism of protein and lipid of juvenile largemouth bass.


## 2. Experimental Procedure

### 2.1. Ethical Statement

The experimental protocol followed that of the Institutional Animal Care and Ethics Committee of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China. [Permit number: SYXK (Su) 2011-0036] and the Standardization Administration of China protocols and guidelines (GB/T 35892-2018).


### 2.2. Diets

Six different histidine levels were designed according to isonitrogenous and isoenergetic principles. These levels were 0.71%, 0.89%, 1.08%, 1.26%, 1.48%, and 1.67%, respectively. Fish meal, rapeseed meal, and soybean meal provided main protein of the feed, and fish oil provided the main lipid. The amino acid mixes were calculated and added to the feed based on dietary protein content (Tables1 and 2). All ingredients were crushed and passed through an 80 μm mesh sieve, well mixed according to the experimental formula, then made into 1 mm sized pellet feed using a SJPS56x2 bulking machine (Jiangsu Muyang Holdings Co., LTD). The wet feed was then dried at 45°C and stored in a refrigerator at -20°C.Table 1
Formulation and proximate composition of the experimental diets (%, dry matter).
IngredientDiet 1Diet 2Diet 3Diet 4Diet 5Diet 6Fish meal1303030303030Rapeseed meal1888888Soybean meal1101010101010Wheat meal1161616161616Fish oil555555Sleeve-fish ointment222222Amino acid mixes213.2113.2113.2113.2113.2113.21Choline chloride0.10.10.10.10.10.1Vitamin premix3111111Mineral premix3111111Monocalcium phosphate2.52.52.52.52.52.5Microcrystalline cellulose3.183.183.183.183.183.18Rice bran777777Ethoxylquinine0.010.010.010.010.010.01Glycine10.80.60.40.20L-histidine00.20.40.60.81Compositional analysis (dry matter)Crude protein (%)46.9347.0147.1146.8346.9147.03Crude lipid (%)11.0210.9810.9411.0110.9710.99Energy (MJ/kg)18.8718.8518.8318.8518.9118.88Histidine levels (%)0.710.891.081.261.481.671Fish meal, rapeseed meal, soybean meal, wheat meal obtained from Wuxi Tongwei feedstuffs Co., Ltd, Wuxi, China, crude protein 65.6%, 39.2%, 39.2%, and 13.1%, respectively; crude lipid 9.5%, 6.1%, 4.3%, and 4.0%, respectively. 2Amino acid mixes: the amino acid content was balanced according to the amino acid composition of 47% protein level of the whole fish. The total of amino acid mixes was 13.21% including Arginine, 0.87%; Isoleucine, 0.74%; Leucine, 1.21%; Lysine, 1.40%; Methionine, 0.37%; Phenylalanine, 0.61%; Threonine, 0.74%; Valine, 0.74%; Tryptophan, 0.14%; Aspartic acid, 1.00%; Serine, 0.71%; Glycine, 1.16%; Alanine, 0.52%; Gultamic acid, 2.02%; Proline, 0.98%. All amino acids obtained from Feeer Co., LTD (Shanghai, China). 3Mineral premix and vitamins premix were obtained from Wuxi Hanove animal health products Co., Ltd, Wuxi, China.Table 2
Amino acid composition of feed (%, dry matter).
VarietiesDiet 1Diet 2Diet 3Diet 4Diet 5Diet 647% whole fish body protein compositionEssential amino acidHistidine0.710.891.081.261.481.671.17Arginine2.832.812.792.842.782.822.81Isoleucine2.042.052.092.012.032.092.04Leucine3.523.483.473.483.533.513.50Lysine3.473.563.523.573.513.533.50Methionine1.121.131.111.141.091.111.11Phenylalanine1.971.941.931.951.961.941.95Threonine2.032.022.042.032.032.012.00Valine2.252.272.282.262.292.222.25Tryptophan0.490.510.490.480.500.510.50Nonessential amino acidAspartic acid4.464.484.434.484.464.444.42Serine2.082.072.082.072.062.062.02Glycine4.864.644.484.244.053.873.90Alanine3.253.233.243.243.253.233.30Cystine0.250.270.230.250.260.250.27Gultamic acid8.488.428.478.438.418.428.50Proline2.612.622.612.622.632.612.64Tyrosine1.391.361.371.391.371.391.33


### 2.3. Breeding

All experimental fish were temporarily kept in pond cages for 15 days to acclimate to the environment. Then, juvenile largemouth bass (12.33±0.01g) with a healthy physique, sufficient vitality, and similar specifications were randomly divided and stocked into 18 experimental cages, with 20 fish in each cage. All the fishes were fed two times daily (7:00 and 17:00) based on apparent satiety criteria throughout the breeding experiment stage. During this experiment, aquaculture water parameters were controlled within the following range: 28±2°C (water temperature), 7-7.5 (pH), > 6.0 mg/L (dissolved oxygen), and < 0.1 mg/L (total ammonia nitrogen).


### 2.4. Samples

After the breeding experiment, the fishes were all starved for 24 h, and then each cage of fish was bulk-weighed and counted. Meanwhile, blood was drawn from the tail vein and centrifuged at 3,000 rpm (10 min, 4°C) to plasma. Then, the fishes were dissected to obtain liver samples; some of which were stored in sample sacks for the content analysis of liver; some were stored in cryopreservation tubes for gene expression analysis, and some were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for oil red O staining analysis.


### 2.5. Experimental Analysis

#### 2.5.1. Proximate Analysis and Biochemical Analysis

The proximate analysis of the raw materials, diets, and whole-body composition and the lipid content of liver was conducted using the established methods of AOAC [37]. The principal detection equipment and methods are summarized in Table 3. The amino acid composition of ingredients and feed was evaluated in accordance with previous studies [38]. Furthermore, the total triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels of plasma were also analyzed by a biochemical analyzer (Mindray Medical International Ltd., China) (Table 3).Table 3
The chemical analysis used in the experiment.
ItemsMethodsAssay kits/testing equipmentComposition of diets/ingredientsMoistureDrying methodElectric blast drying oven (Shanghai Yiheng scientific instrument co., ltd., Shanghai, China)ProteinKjeldahlAuto kieldahl apparatus: Hanon K1100 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)LipidSoxhletAuto lipid analyzer: Hanon SOX606 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)AshCombustionMuffle: XL-2A (Hangzhou Zhuochi instrument co., ltd., Hangzhou, China)Gross energyCombustionOxygen bomb calorimeter: IKA C6000 (IKA WORKS GUANGZHOU, GUANGZHOU, China)Amino acids (except tryptophan)Acid hydrolysisAmino acid analyzer: SYKAM S-433D (SYKAM GmbH, Munich, Germany)TryptophanAlkali hydrolysisLiver lipidSoxhletAuto lipid analyzer: Hanon SOX606 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)Plasma parametersTG1International Federation of Clinical Chemistry recommendedAssay kits purchased from Mindray medical international ltd. (Shenzhen, China); Mindray BS-400 automatic biochemical analyzer (Mindray medical international ltd., Shenzhen, China).TC11TG: total triglyceride; TC: total cholesterol.


#### 2.5.2. Oil Red O Staining

The fresh liver samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for no less than 48 hours. Then, the tissue was dehydrated and embedded with optimal cutting temperature compound. This was then sliced at a thickness of 8-10μm through a leica RM 2135 slicing machine (Leica Company, Wetzlar, Germany). The tissue sections were then stained with oil red O as follows: (a) drying tissue sections at room temperature for 10 minutes; (b) incubating tissue sections at 75% alcohol for 10 seconds and oil red O working fluid for 10-15 minutes (away from light); (c) differentiation using 75% alcohol for 2 seconds; (d) washing with water for 1 minute and redying with hematoxylin; (e) washing with water and an ammonia solution until the section was blue; (f) draining the water and sealing the tissue sections with glycerin and gelatin.


#### 2.5.3. Gene Expression Analysis

The related genes mRNA levels of protein synthesis, amino acid response, and lipid metabolism were determined by qRT-PCR analysis, which was referred to our previous study [39]. First, RNA extraction was operated by the TRIzol method (Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd, China). Second, the thermo Scientific NanoDrop-2000 Spectrophotometers (Thermofisher Scientific, USA) was used for testing the quantity and quality of RNA. Finally, qRT-PCR was analyzed using a CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System (Bio-Rad, USA). The program was reverse transcription for 5 minutes at 42°C, predegeneration for 10 seconds at 95°C, 40 cycles of denaturation for 5 seconds at 95°C, and 34 seconds at 60°C (annealing temperature). The melting curve was analyzed by elevating the temperature from 65°C to 95°C while monitoring fluorescence. The primers for the analysis of mRNA levels were shown in Table 4. The Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was selected as internal reference gene, and the levels of mRNA were calculated from the standard curve, normalized against GAPDH and quantified using a relative standard curve method [40].Table 4
Real-time PCR primer sequences used in the present study.
Target genesForward primer (5′-3′)Reverse primer (5′-3′)SourcesTOR signaling pathway1TORCCATCCTCAACCTACTTCCCTCTCCTTCTCCTTCTTCAGSelf-designed based on transcriptsAKTAGCGCACCTTCCATGTAGACGGCTATTTGCCACTTGCTGG[30]S6GTAATGCAAAGGACACGGCGGTTCCCCACCGCTCAGATACXP_010747297.34EBP1AGCAGGAACTTTCGGTCATAGTCAATGGGCAGTCAGAAGA[17]GH-IGF-1signaling pathway2GHCCCCCAAACTGTCAGAACTACATTTCGCTACCGTCAGG[31]IGF-1CTTCAAGAGTGCGATGTGCGCCATAGCCTGTTGGTTTACTG[31]AAR signaling pathway3GCN2GAATATCGTCCGCTACTACACGTCGTCGTCATCATCATXM_038728156.1eIF2αTAAGTCCAGCCCATCCAAAACACCCGAGGAGGCCATCAAG[17]CHOPTGGTGGTGTTGATGGTGGTAAAGACGTGGGGTGAGGGTGTTC[17]ATF4TGGAGGTTGTTATGAAGTGTGGAATGATGGTGGCTGTTSelf-designed based on transcriptsREDD1TGACCTGTGTCCCTCTAATGAATGTGCTCCAGAAGTTTCTCA[17]PPARs signaling pathway4PPARαAGGCTTCATCACCAGAGATCCGCAGCAGATAATAGTAG[30]CPT1TTACCGTATGGCTATGACTGGGCTCCGATAACACCTCT[30]L-FABPCTGGAGACTATTACTGGAGAGACACAATGCCACCAAGAGSelf-designed based on transcriptsPGC1αATGACTACAGCAGCAGAAGTAGCCAGAGGACCAGATGSelf-designed based on transcriptsPPARγGAGTTCTCAGTCAAGTTCAACAATGTAGCACCGTCTCCT[30]FASAGTTGAAGGCTGCTGATGGCTGTGGATGATGTTGGT[30]SCDCGATGCTGCTTCTTCACTGACACGGTTCTGCCATTA[30]ACCTTACATCGCAGCCAACAGCTCTCCACCTTCCTCTACA[30]SREBP1TCACCTTCCTCTTCCTCTCTCAGTAGCCACACCAGTAT[30]ELOVL2GGACACAACAATACAAGATGGGAACAGGTAGCACAGCAATSelf-designed based on transcriptsHousekeeping gene5GAPDHACTGTCACTCCTCCATCTTCACGGTTGCTGTATCCAA[30]1TOR signaling pathway; TOR: target of rapamycin; AKT: protein kinase B; 4EBP1: eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1; S6: ribosomal protein S6; 2GH-IGF-1signaling pathway; GH: growth hormone; IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor-1; 3AAR signaling pathway: GCN2: general control nonderepressible 2 kinase; eIF2α: eukaryotic initiation factor 2α; CHOP: C/EBP-homologous protein; ATF4: transcription factor 4; REDD1: DNA damage responses 1; 4PPARs signaling pathway: PPARα: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α; CPT1: carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1; L-FABP: liver fatty acid binding protein; PGC1α: peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ coactivator-1α; PPARγ: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; FAS: fatty acid synthase; SCD: stearoyl-CoA desaturase; ACC: acetyl-CoA carboxylase; SREBP1: sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1; ELOVL2, elongation of very long-chain fatty acids 2; 5Housekeeping gene: GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.


### 2.6. Statistical Analysis

The area of oil red O staining in the tissue section was analyzed by Image-Pro 6.0 software, which calculated the positive area, tissue area, and the proportion of the positive area. Furthermore, SPSS 16.0 software was also used for analyzing data by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. All the analyzed data were presented as the means with S.E.M.P<0.05, which was considered to be a significant difference.After comparing the estimation coefficient (R2) among the linear regression model (SGR, R2=0.151; FCR, R2=0.135), logarithmic regression model (SGR, R2=0.277; FCR, R2=0.208), quadratic linear regression model (SGR, R2=0.717; FCR, R2=0.721), and broken regression model (SGR, R2=0.552; FCR, R2=0.551), the quadratic regression model was selected to determine the optimum dietary histidine requirement of largemouth bass.


## 2.1. Ethical Statement

The experimental protocol followed that of the Institutional Animal Care and Ethics Committee of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China. [Permit number: SYXK (Su) 2011-0036] and the Standardization Administration of China protocols and guidelines (GB/T 35892-2018).


## 2.2. Diets

Six different histidine levels were designed according to isonitrogenous and isoenergetic principles. These levels were 0.71%, 0.89%, 1.08%, 1.26%, 1.48%, and 1.67%, respectively. Fish meal, rapeseed meal, and soybean meal provided main protein of the feed, and fish oil provided the main lipid. The amino acid mixes were calculated and added to the feed based on dietary protein content (Tables1 and 2). All ingredients were crushed and passed through an 80 μm mesh sieve, well mixed according to the experimental formula, then made into 1 mm sized pellet feed using a SJPS56x2 bulking machine (Jiangsu Muyang Holdings Co., LTD). The wet feed was then dried at 45°C and stored in a refrigerator at -20°C.Table 1
Formulation and proximate composition of the experimental diets (%, dry matter).
IngredientDiet 1Diet 2Diet 3Diet 4Diet 5Diet 6Fish meal1303030303030Rapeseed meal1888888Soybean meal1101010101010Wheat meal1161616161616Fish oil555555Sleeve-fish ointment222222Amino acid mixes213.2113.2113.2113.2113.2113.21Choline chloride0.10.10.10.10.10.1Vitamin premix3111111Mineral premix3111111Monocalcium phosphate2.52.52.52.52.52.5Microcrystalline cellulose3.183.183.183.183.183.18Rice bran777777Ethoxylquinine0.010.010.010.010.010.01Glycine10.80.60.40.20L-histidine00.20.40.60.81Compositional analysis (dry matter)Crude protein (%)46.9347.0147.1146.8346.9147.03Crude lipid (%)11.0210.9810.9411.0110.9710.99Energy (MJ/kg)18.8718.8518.8318.8518.9118.88Histidine levels (%)0.710.891.081.261.481.671Fish meal, rapeseed meal, soybean meal, wheat meal obtained from Wuxi Tongwei feedstuffs Co., Ltd, Wuxi, China, crude protein 65.6%, 39.2%, 39.2%, and 13.1%, respectively; crude lipid 9.5%, 6.1%, 4.3%, and 4.0%, respectively. 2Amino acid mixes: the amino acid content was balanced according to the amino acid composition of 47% protein level of the whole fish. The total of amino acid mixes was 13.21% including Arginine, 0.87%; Isoleucine, 0.74%; Leucine, 1.21%; Lysine, 1.40%; Methionine, 0.37%; Phenylalanine, 0.61%; Threonine, 0.74%; Valine, 0.74%; Tryptophan, 0.14%; Aspartic acid, 1.00%; Serine, 0.71%; Glycine, 1.16%; Alanine, 0.52%; Gultamic acid, 2.02%; Proline, 0.98%. All amino acids obtained from Feeer Co., LTD (Shanghai, China). 3Mineral premix and vitamins premix were obtained from Wuxi Hanove animal health products Co., Ltd, Wuxi, China.Table 2
Amino acid composition of feed (%, dry matter).
VarietiesDiet 1Diet 2Diet 3Diet 4Diet 5Diet 647% whole fish body protein compositionEssential amino acidHistidine0.710.891.081.261.481.671.17Arginine2.832.812.792.842.782.822.81Isoleucine2.042.052.092.012.032.092.04Leucine3.523.483.473.483.533.513.50Lysine3.473.563.523.573.513.533.50Methionine1.121.131.111.141.091.111.11Phenylalanine1.971.941.931.951.961.941.95Threonine2.032.022.042.032.032.012.00Valine2.252.272.282.262.292.222.25Tryptophan0.490.510.490.480.500.510.50Nonessential amino acidAspartic acid4.464.484.434.484.464.444.42Serine2.082.072.082.072.062.062.02Glycine4.864.644.484.244.053.873.90Alanine3.253.233.243.243.253.233.30Cystine0.250.270.230.250.260.250.27Gultamic acid8.488.428.478.438.418.428.50Proline2.612.622.612.622.632.612.64Tyrosine1.391.361.371.391.371.391.33


## 2.3. Breeding

All experimental fish were temporarily kept in pond cages for 15 days to acclimate to the environment. Then, juvenile largemouth bass (12.33±0.01g) with a healthy physique, sufficient vitality, and similar specifications were randomly divided and stocked into 18 experimental cages, with 20 fish in each cage. All the fishes were fed two times daily (7:00 and 17:00) based on apparent satiety criteria throughout the breeding experiment stage. During this experiment, aquaculture water parameters were controlled within the following range: 28±2°C (water temperature), 7-7.5 (pH), > 6.0 mg/L (dissolved oxygen), and < 0.1 mg/L (total ammonia nitrogen).


## 2.4. Samples

After the breeding experiment, the fishes were all starved for 24 h, and then each cage of fish was bulk-weighed and counted. Meanwhile, blood was drawn from the tail vein and centrifuged at 3,000 rpm (10 min, 4°C) to plasma. Then, the fishes were dissected to obtain liver samples; some of which were stored in sample sacks for the content analysis of liver; some were stored in cryopreservation tubes for gene expression analysis, and some were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for oil red O staining analysis.


## 2.5. Experimental Analysis

### 2.5.1. Proximate Analysis and Biochemical Analysis

The proximate analysis of the raw materials, diets, and whole-body composition and the lipid content of liver was conducted using the established methods of AOAC [37]. The principal detection equipment and methods are summarized in Table 3. The amino acid composition of ingredients and feed was evaluated in accordance with previous studies [38]. Furthermore, the total triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels of plasma were also analyzed by a biochemical analyzer (Mindray Medical International Ltd., China) (Table 3).Table 3
The chemical analysis used in the experiment.
ItemsMethodsAssay kits/testing equipmentComposition of diets/ingredientsMoistureDrying methodElectric blast drying oven (Shanghai Yiheng scientific instrument co., ltd., Shanghai, China)ProteinKjeldahlAuto kieldahl apparatus: Hanon K1100 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)LipidSoxhletAuto lipid analyzer: Hanon SOX606 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)AshCombustionMuffle: XL-2A (Hangzhou Zhuochi instrument co., ltd., Hangzhou, China)Gross energyCombustionOxygen bomb calorimeter: IKA C6000 (IKA WORKS GUANGZHOU, GUANGZHOU, China)Amino acids (except tryptophan)Acid hydrolysisAmino acid analyzer: SYKAM S-433D (SYKAM GmbH, Munich, Germany)TryptophanAlkali hydrolysisLiver lipidSoxhletAuto lipid analyzer: Hanon SOX606 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)Plasma parametersTG1International Federation of Clinical Chemistry recommendedAssay kits purchased from Mindray medical international ltd. (Shenzhen, China); Mindray BS-400 automatic biochemical analyzer (Mindray medical international ltd., Shenzhen, China).TC11TG: total triglyceride; TC: total cholesterol.


### 2.5.2. Oil Red O Staining

The fresh liver samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for no less than 48 hours. Then, the tissue was dehydrated and embedded with optimal cutting temperature compound. This was then sliced at a thickness of 8-10μm through a leica RM 2135 slicing machine (Leica Company, Wetzlar, Germany). The tissue sections were then stained with oil red O as follows: (a) drying tissue sections at room temperature for 10 minutes; (b) incubating tissue sections at 75% alcohol for 10 seconds and oil red O working fluid for 10-15 minutes (away from light); (c) differentiation using 75% alcohol for 2 seconds; (d) washing with water for 1 minute and redying with hematoxylin; (e) washing with water and an ammonia solution until the section was blue; (f) draining the water and sealing the tissue sections with glycerin and gelatin.


### 2.5.3. Gene Expression Analysis

The related genes mRNA levels of protein synthesis, amino acid response, and lipid metabolism were determined by qRT-PCR analysis, which was referred to our previous study [39]. First, RNA extraction was operated by the TRIzol method (Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd, China). Second, the thermo Scientific NanoDrop-2000 Spectrophotometers (Thermofisher Scientific, USA) was used for testing the quantity and quality of RNA. Finally, qRT-PCR was analyzed using a CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System (Bio-Rad, USA). The program was reverse transcription for 5 minutes at 42°C, predegeneration for 10 seconds at 95°C, 40 cycles of denaturation for 5 seconds at 95°C, and 34 seconds at 60°C (annealing temperature). The melting curve was analyzed by elevating the temperature from 65°C to 95°C while monitoring fluorescence. The primers for the analysis of mRNA levels were shown in Table 4. The Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was selected as internal reference gene, and the levels of mRNA were calculated from the standard curve, normalized against GAPDH and quantified using a relative standard curve method [40].Table 4
Real-time PCR primer sequences used in the present study.
Target genesForward primer (5′-3′)Reverse primer (5′-3′)SourcesTOR signaling pathway1TORCCATCCTCAACCTACTTCCCTCTCCTTCTCCTTCTTCAGSelf-designed based on transcriptsAKTAGCGCACCTTCCATGTAGACGGCTATTTGCCACTTGCTGG[30]S6GTAATGCAAAGGACACGGCGGTTCCCCACCGCTCAGATACXP_010747297.34EBP1AGCAGGAACTTTCGGTCATAGTCAATGGGCAGTCAGAAGA[17]GH-IGF-1signaling pathway2GHCCCCCAAACTGTCAGAACTACATTTCGCTACCGTCAGG[31]IGF-1CTTCAAGAGTGCGATGTGCGCCATAGCCTGTTGGTTTACTG[31]AAR signaling pathway3GCN2GAATATCGTCCGCTACTACACGTCGTCGTCATCATCATXM_038728156.1eIF2αTAAGTCCAGCCCATCCAAAACACCCGAGGAGGCCATCAAG[17]CHOPTGGTGGTGTTGATGGTGGTAAAGACGTGGGGTGAGGGTGTTC[17]ATF4TGGAGGTTGTTATGAAGTGTGGAATGATGGTGGCTGTTSelf-designed based on transcriptsREDD1TGACCTGTGTCCCTCTAATGAATGTGCTCCAGAAGTTTCTCA[17]PPARs signaling pathway4PPARαAGGCTTCATCACCAGAGATCCGCAGCAGATAATAGTAG[30]CPT1TTACCGTATGGCTATGACTGGGCTCCGATAACACCTCT[30]L-FABPCTGGAGACTATTACTGGAGAGACACAATGCCACCAAGAGSelf-designed based on transcriptsPGC1αATGACTACAGCAGCAGAAGTAGCCAGAGGACCAGATGSelf-designed based on transcriptsPPARγGAGTTCTCAGTCAAGTTCAACAATGTAGCACCGTCTCCT[30]FASAGTTGAAGGCTGCTGATGGCTGTGGATGATGTTGGT[30]SCDCGATGCTGCTTCTTCACTGACACGGTTCTGCCATTA[30]ACCTTACATCGCAGCCAACAGCTCTCCACCTTCCTCTACA[30]SREBP1TCACCTTCCTCTTCCTCTCTCAGTAGCCACACCAGTAT[30]ELOVL2GGACACAACAATACAAGATGGGAACAGGTAGCACAGCAATSelf-designed based on transcriptsHousekeeping gene5GAPDHACTGTCACTCCTCCATCTTCACGGTTGCTGTATCCAA[30]1TOR signaling pathway; TOR: target of rapamycin; AKT: protein kinase B; 4EBP1: eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1; S6: ribosomal protein S6; 2GH-IGF-1signaling pathway; GH: growth hormone; IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor-1; 3AAR signaling pathway: GCN2: general control nonderepressible 2 kinase; eIF2α: eukaryotic initiation factor 2α; CHOP: C/EBP-homologous protein; ATF4: transcription factor 4; REDD1: DNA damage responses 1; 4PPARs signaling pathway: PPARα: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α; CPT1: carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1; L-FABP: liver fatty acid binding protein; PGC1α: peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ coactivator-1α; PPARγ: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; FAS: fatty acid synthase; SCD: stearoyl-CoA desaturase; ACC: acetyl-CoA carboxylase; SREBP1: sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1; ELOVL2, elongation of very long-chain fatty acids 2; 5Housekeeping gene: GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.


## 2.5.1. Proximate Analysis and Biochemical Analysis

The proximate analysis of the raw materials, diets, and whole-body composition and the lipid content of liver was conducted using the established methods of AOAC [37]. The principal detection equipment and methods are summarized in Table 3. The amino acid composition of ingredients and feed was evaluated in accordance with previous studies [38]. Furthermore, the total triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels of plasma were also analyzed by a biochemical analyzer (Mindray Medical International Ltd., China) (Table 3).Table 3
The chemical analysis used in the experiment.
ItemsMethodsAssay kits/testing equipmentComposition of diets/ingredientsMoistureDrying methodElectric blast drying oven (Shanghai Yiheng scientific instrument co., ltd., Shanghai, China)ProteinKjeldahlAuto kieldahl apparatus: Hanon K1100 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)LipidSoxhletAuto lipid analyzer: Hanon SOX606 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)AshCombustionMuffle: XL-2A (Hangzhou Zhuochi instrument co., ltd., Hangzhou, China)Gross energyCombustionOxygen bomb calorimeter: IKA C6000 (IKA WORKS GUANGZHOU, GUANGZHOU, China)Amino acids (except tryptophan)Acid hydrolysisAmino acid analyzer: SYKAM S-433D (SYKAM GmbH, Munich, Germany)TryptophanAlkali hydrolysisLiver lipidSoxhletAuto lipid analyzer: Hanon SOX606 (Jinan Hanon instruments co., ltd., Jinan, China)Plasma parametersTG1International Federation of Clinical Chemistry recommendedAssay kits purchased from Mindray medical international ltd. (Shenzhen, China); Mindray BS-400 automatic biochemical analyzer (Mindray medical international ltd., Shenzhen, China).TC11TG: total triglyceride; TC: total cholesterol.


## 2.5.2. Oil Red O Staining

The fresh liver samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for no less than 48 hours. Then, the tissue was dehydrated and embedded with optimal cutting temperature compound. This was then sliced at a thickness of 8-10μm through a leica RM 2135 slicing machine (Leica Company, Wetzlar, Germany). The tissue sections were then stained with oil red O as follows: (a) drying tissue sections at room temperature for 10 minutes; (b) incubating tissue sections at 75% alcohol for 10 seconds and oil red O working fluid for 10-15 minutes (away from light); (c) differentiation using 75% alcohol for 2 seconds; (d) washing with water for 1 minute and redying with hematoxylin; (e) washing with water and an ammonia solution until the section was blue; (f) draining the water and sealing the tissue sections with glycerin and gelatin.


## 2.5.3. Gene Expression Analysis

The related genes mRNA levels of protein synthesis, amino acid response, and lipid metabolism were determined by qRT-PCR analysis, which was referred to our previous study [39]. First, RNA extraction was operated by the TRIzol method (Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd, China). Second, the thermo Scientific NanoDrop-2000 Spectrophotometers (Thermofisher Scientific, USA) was used for testing the quantity and quality of RNA. Finally, qRT-PCR was analyzed using a CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System (Bio-Rad, USA). The program was reverse transcription for 5 minutes at 42°C, predegeneration for 10 seconds at 95°C, 40 cycles of denaturation for 5 seconds at 95°C, and 34 seconds at 60°C (annealing temperature). The melting curve was analyzed by elevating the temperature from 65°C to 95°C while monitoring fluorescence. The primers for the analysis of mRNA levels were shown in Table 4. The Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was selected as internal reference gene, and the levels of mRNA were calculated from the standard curve, normalized against GAPDH and quantified using a relative standard curve method [40].Table 4
Real-time PCR primer sequences used in the present study.
Target genesForward primer (5′-3′)Reverse primer (5′-3′)SourcesTOR signaling pathway1TORCCATCCTCAACCTACTTCCCTCTCCTTCTCCTTCTTCAGSelf-designed based on transcriptsAKTAGCGCACCTTCCATGTAGACGGCTATTTGCCACTTGCTGG[30]S6GTAATGCAAAGGACACGGCGGTTCCCCACCGCTCAGATACXP_010747297.34EBP1AGCAGGAACTTTCGGTCATAGTCAATGGGCAGTCAGAAGA[17]GH-IGF-1signaling pathway2GHCCCCCAAACTGTCAGAACTACATTTCGCTACCGTCAGG[31]IGF-1CTTCAAGAGTGCGATGTGCGCCATAGCCTGTTGGTTTACTG[31]AAR signaling pathway3GCN2GAATATCGTCCGCTACTACACGTCGTCGTCATCATCATXM_038728156.1eIF2αTAAGTCCAGCCCATCCAAAACACCCGAGGAGGCCATCAAG[17]CHOPTGGTGGTGTTGATGGTGGTAAAGACGTGGGGTGAGGGTGTTC[17]ATF4TGGAGGTTGTTATGAAGTGTGGAATGATGGTGGCTGTTSelf-designed based on transcriptsREDD1TGACCTGTGTCCCTCTAATGAATGTGCTCCAGAAGTTTCTCA[17]PPARs signaling pathway4PPARαAGGCTTCATCACCAGAGATCCGCAGCAGATAATAGTAG[30]CPT1TTACCGTATGGCTATGACTGGGCTCCGATAACACCTCT[30]L-FABPCTGGAGACTATTACTGGAGAGACACAATGCCACCAAGAGSelf-designed based on transcriptsPGC1αATGACTACAGCAGCAGAAGTAGCCAGAGGACCAGATGSelf-designed based on transcriptsPPARγGAGTTCTCAGTCAAGTTCAACAATGTAGCACCGTCTCCT[30]FASAGTTGAAGGCTGCTGATGGCTGTGGATGATGTTGGT[30]SCDCGATGCTGCTTCTTCACTGACACGGTTCTGCCATTA[30]ACCTTACATCGCAGCCAACAGCTCTCCACCTTCCTCTACA[30]SREBP1TCACCTTCCTCTTCCTCTCTCAGTAGCCACACCAGTAT[30]ELOVL2GGACACAACAATACAAGATGGGAACAGGTAGCACAGCAATSelf-designed based on transcriptsHousekeeping gene5GAPDHACTGTCACTCCTCCATCTTCACGGTTGCTGTATCCAA[30]1TOR signaling pathway; TOR: target of rapamycin; AKT: protein kinase B; 4EBP1: eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1; S6: ribosomal protein S6; 2GH-IGF-1signaling pathway; GH: growth hormone; IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor-1; 3AAR signaling pathway: GCN2: general control nonderepressible 2 kinase; eIF2α: eukaryotic initiation factor 2α; CHOP: C/EBP-homologous protein; ATF4: transcription factor 4; REDD1: DNA damage responses 1; 4PPARs signaling pathway: PPARα: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α; CPT1: carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1; L-FABP: liver fatty acid binding protein; PGC1α: peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ coactivator-1α; PPARγ: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; FAS: fatty acid synthase; SCD: stearoyl-CoA desaturase; ACC: acetyl-CoA carboxylase; SREBP1: sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1; ELOVL2, elongation of very long-chain fatty acids 2; 5Housekeeping gene: GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.


## 2.6. Statistical Analysis

The area of oil red O staining in the tissue section was analyzed by Image-Pro 6.0 software, which calculated the positive area, tissue area, and the proportion of the positive area. Furthermore, SPSS 16.0 software was also used for analyzing data by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. All the analyzed data were presented as the means with S.E.M.P<0.05, which was considered to be a significant difference.After comparing the estimation coefficient (R2) among the linear regression model (SGR, R2=0.151; FCR, R2=0.135), logarithmic regression model (SGR, R2=0.277; FCR, R2=0.208), quadratic linear regression model (SGR, R2=0.717; FCR, R2=0.721), and broken regression model (SGR, R2=0.552; FCR, R2=0.551), the quadratic regression model was selected to determine the optimum dietary histidine requirement of largemouth bass.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Growth Performance

Appropriate histidine levels had a positive effect on growth. Histidine adding could significantly improve the final weight, specific growth rate, weight gain rate, and protein efficiency rate as well as significantly lower the feed conversion rate and feed intake rate at the 1.08-1.48% dietary histidine levels (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences found in survival rate, condition factor, viscerosomatic index, and hepatosomatic index (P>0.05) (Table 5). Therefore, based on the specific growth rate and feed conversion rate, the dietary histidine requirement of juvenile largemouth bass was 1.26% of diet (2.68% of dietary protein) as determined (Figure 1).Table 5
Growth performance of juvenile largemouth bass fed with the experimental diets.
Indexes0.71%0.89%1.08%1.26%1.48%1.67%Initial weight (g)12.31±0.0112.33±0.0212.33±0.0212.34±0.0112.32±0.0112.32±0.01Final weight (g)148.90±2.19a51.63±0.37ab55.48±1.40b55.46±0.74b54.31±1.13b51.77±1.36abWeight gain rate (%)2297.20±17.40a318.59±3.52ab349.88±11.96b349.28±6.37b340.70±8.84b320.14±10.83abFeed conversion rate31.25±0.05c1.22±0.02c1.07±0.02a1.07±0.02a1.12±0.02ab1.18±0.03bcSpecific growth rate (%/day)42.46±0.08a2.56±0.02ab2.68±0.05b2.68±0.03b2.65±0.04b2.56±0.05abProtein efficiency rate51.64±0.07a1.68±0.03ab1.91±0.04c1.92±0.03c1.82±0.03bc1.73±0.04abFeed intake rate (%)2.65±0.03c2.64±0.02bc2.41±0.04a2.41±0.03a2.50±0.02ab2.58±0.04bcSurvival rate (%)98.89±1.1197.78±2.2298.89±1.1198.89±1.1197.78±2.2298.89±1.11Condition factor (%)2.20±0.092.14±0.062.31±0.132.23±0.082.14±0.092.14±0.06Viscerosomatic index (%)7.18±0.407.73±0.837.00±0.216.93±0.307.27±0.437.23±0.06Hepatosomatic index (%)1.79±0.141.61±0.201.61±0.101.63±0.121.47±0.221.39±0.25RegressionsY1=−228893x2+5773.6x+19.14R2=0.7133Y2=−2E+06x2+46051x+59.638R2=0.7017Y3=6366.2x2−160.23x+2.0857R2=0.7210Y4=−7645.2x2+193.18x+1.4669R2=0.7167Y5=−9927.4x2+248.81x+0.3359R2=0.7044All data are mean value of threereplicates°±°SEM. Means in the same row with different superscripts are significantly different (P°<°0.05). Weight gain rate %°=°100°×°finalbodyweightg−initialbodyweightg/initialbodyweightg. Feed conversion ratio=dryfeedfedg/wetweightgaing. Specific growth rate %/d=100×Lnfinalbodyweightg−Lninitialbodyweightg/days. Condition factor %=100×fishweightg/bodylengthcm3. Hepatosomatic index %=100×liverweightg/bodyweightg. Viscerosomatic index %=100×visceralweightg/bodyweightg. Protein efficiency ratio PER=wetweightgain/proteinintake. Survival rate %=100×survivalfishnumber/totalfishnumber. Feed intake rate %=100∗dryfeedfedg/totalinitialweightg+totalfinalweightg/2/days.Figure 1
Quadratic regression analysis of specific growth rate (SGR, %/day) and feed conversion rate (FCR) against graded different levels of dietary histidine.


### 3.2. Whole-Body Composition and Serum Biochemical Indices

The fish fed with the 1.08% dietary histidine showed highest protein content (P<0.05) (Figure 2(b)). Meanwhile, the lipid levels showed a continuing trend of decline with the increase of histidine supplementation (P<0.05) (Figure 2(c)). And the plasma TC levels also showed a trend of decline with the increase of histidine supplementation (P<0.05) (Figure 3(a)). However, there were no significant differences found in the ash and moisture levels of whole-body composition and plasma TG (P>0.05) (Figures 2(a) and 2(d) and Figure 3(b)).Figure 2
The whole body composition of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)Figure 3
Serum biochemical indices of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)


### 3.3. TOR and GH-IGF-1 Signaling Pathway

The 1.08-1.67% dietary histidine levels significantly improved the mRNA levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and TOR (P<0.05) (Figures 4(a) and 4(b) and Figure 5(a)). Furthermore, the 1.08 and 1.26% dietary histidine levels significantly increased the ribosomal protein S6 (S6) mRNA levels (P<0.05) (Figure 5(c)). However, no significant effects on the mRNA levels of pukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1) and protein kinase B (AKT) were found in juvenile largemouth bass fed with different dietary histidine levels (P>0.05) (Figures 5(b) and 5(d)).Figure 4
The relative expressions of GH-IGF-1 axis in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)Figure 5
The relative expressions of TOR signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)


### 3.4. AAR Signaling Pathway

The mRNA levels of general control nonderepressible 2 kinase (GCN2) had a continuing trend of decline with the increase of dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figure 6(a)). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of downstream genes of GCN2 signaling pathway, including eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and DNA damage responses 1 (REDD1), were also decreased with the increase of dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figures 6(b–e)).Figure 6
The relative expressions of AAR signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)


### 3.5. PPARα and PPARγ Signaling Pathways

The mRNA levels of PPARα were increased with the increasing dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figure 7(a)). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of downstream genes of PPARα signaling pathway, including carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT1), Liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), and peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α), were also increased with the increasing dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figures 7(b–d)). Moreover, the mRNA levels of PPARγ had an opposite trend with the mRNA levels of PPARα (P<0.05) (Figure 8(a)). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of the downstream genes of the PPARγ signaling pathway, including fatty acid synthase (FAS), Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1), and elongation of very long-chain fatty acids 2 (ELOVL2), were significantly decreased in the fish fed different dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figures 8(b) and 8(d–f)). However, different dietary histidine levels showed no significant effect on the mRNA levels of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) (P>0.05) (Figure 8(c)).Figure 7
The relative expressions of PPARα signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)Figure 8
The relative expressions of PPARγ signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)


### 3.6. The Hepatic Oil Red O Stain and Lipid Content

The positive area ratio of hepatic oil red O staining showed a significant lower trend with the increase of dietary histidine levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, the lipid content of liver also showed a similar trend with positive area ratio of oil red stain (P<0.05) (Figure 9).Figure 9
The hepatic oil red O staining and lipid content of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).


## 3.1. Growth Performance

Appropriate histidine levels had a positive effect on growth. Histidine adding could significantly improve the final weight, specific growth rate, weight gain rate, and protein efficiency rate as well as significantly lower the feed conversion rate and feed intake rate at the 1.08-1.48% dietary histidine levels (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences found in survival rate, condition factor, viscerosomatic index, and hepatosomatic index (P>0.05) (Table 5). Therefore, based on the specific growth rate and feed conversion rate, the dietary histidine requirement of juvenile largemouth bass was 1.26% of diet (2.68% of dietary protein) as determined (Figure 1).Table 5
Growth performance of juvenile largemouth bass fed with the experimental diets.
Indexes0.71%0.89%1.08%1.26%1.48%1.67%Initial weight (g)12.31±0.0112.33±0.0212.33±0.0212.34±0.0112.32±0.0112.32±0.01Final weight (g)148.90±2.19a51.63±0.37ab55.48±1.40b55.46±0.74b54.31±1.13b51.77±1.36abWeight gain rate (%)2297.20±17.40a318.59±3.52ab349.88±11.96b349.28±6.37b340.70±8.84b320.14±10.83abFeed conversion rate31.25±0.05c1.22±0.02c1.07±0.02a1.07±0.02a1.12±0.02ab1.18±0.03bcSpecific growth rate (%/day)42.46±0.08a2.56±0.02ab2.68±0.05b2.68±0.03b2.65±0.04b2.56±0.05abProtein efficiency rate51.64±0.07a1.68±0.03ab1.91±0.04c1.92±0.03c1.82±0.03bc1.73±0.04abFeed intake rate (%)2.65±0.03c2.64±0.02bc2.41±0.04a2.41±0.03a2.50±0.02ab2.58±0.04bcSurvival rate (%)98.89±1.1197.78±2.2298.89±1.1198.89±1.1197.78±2.2298.89±1.11Condition factor (%)2.20±0.092.14±0.062.31±0.132.23±0.082.14±0.092.14±0.06Viscerosomatic index (%)7.18±0.407.73±0.837.00±0.216.93±0.307.27±0.437.23±0.06Hepatosomatic index (%)1.79±0.141.61±0.201.61±0.101.63±0.121.47±0.221.39±0.25RegressionsY1=−228893x2+5773.6x+19.14R2=0.7133Y2=−2E+06x2+46051x+59.638R2=0.7017Y3=6366.2x2−160.23x+2.0857R2=0.7210Y4=−7645.2x2+193.18x+1.4669R2=0.7167Y5=−9927.4x2+248.81x+0.3359R2=0.7044All data are mean value of threereplicates°±°SEM. Means in the same row with different superscripts are significantly different (P°<°0.05). Weight gain rate %°=°100°×°finalbodyweightg−initialbodyweightg/initialbodyweightg. Feed conversion ratio=dryfeedfedg/wetweightgaing. Specific growth rate %/d=100×Lnfinalbodyweightg−Lninitialbodyweightg/days. Condition factor %=100×fishweightg/bodylengthcm3. Hepatosomatic index %=100×liverweightg/bodyweightg. Viscerosomatic index %=100×visceralweightg/bodyweightg. Protein efficiency ratio PER=wetweightgain/proteinintake. Survival rate %=100×survivalfishnumber/totalfishnumber. Feed intake rate %=100∗dryfeedfedg/totalinitialweightg+totalfinalweightg/2/days.Figure 1
Quadratic regression analysis of specific growth rate (SGR, %/day) and feed conversion rate (FCR) against graded different levels of dietary histidine.


## 3.2. Whole-Body Composition and Serum Biochemical Indices

The fish fed with the 1.08% dietary histidine showed highest protein content (P<0.05) (Figure 2(b)). Meanwhile, the lipid levels showed a continuing trend of decline with the increase of histidine supplementation (P<0.05) (Figure 2(c)). And the plasma TC levels also showed a trend of decline with the increase of histidine supplementation (P<0.05) (Figure 3(a)). However, there were no significant differences found in the ash and moisture levels of whole-body composition and plasma TG (P>0.05) (Figures 2(a) and 2(d) and Figure 3(b)).Figure 2
The whole body composition of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)Figure 3
Serum biochemical indices of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)


## 3.3. TOR and GH-IGF-1 Signaling Pathway

The 1.08-1.67% dietary histidine levels significantly improved the mRNA levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and TOR (P<0.05) (Figures 4(a) and 4(b) and Figure 5(a)). Furthermore, the 1.08 and 1.26% dietary histidine levels significantly increased the ribosomal protein S6 (S6) mRNA levels (P<0.05) (Figure 5(c)). However, no significant effects on the mRNA levels of pukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1) and protein kinase B (AKT) were found in juvenile largemouth bass fed with different dietary histidine levels (P>0.05) (Figures 5(b) and 5(d)).Figure 4
The relative expressions of GH-IGF-1 axis in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)Figure 5
The relative expressions of TOR signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)


## 3.4. AAR Signaling Pathway

The mRNA levels of general control nonderepressible 2 kinase (GCN2) had a continuing trend of decline with the increase of dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figure 6(a)). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of downstream genes of GCN2 signaling pathway, including eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and DNA damage responses 1 (REDD1), were also decreased with the increase of dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figures 6(b–e)).Figure 6
The relative expressions of AAR signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)


## 3.5. PPARα and PPARγ Signaling Pathways

The mRNA levels of PPARα were increased with the increasing dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figure 7(a)). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of downstream genes of PPARα signaling pathway, including carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT1), Liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), and peroxisome proliferator activator receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α), were also increased with the increasing dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figures 7(b–d)). Moreover, the mRNA levels of PPARγ had an opposite trend with the mRNA levels of PPARα (P<0.05) (Figure 8(a)). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of the downstream genes of the PPARγ signaling pathway, including fatty acid synthase (FAS), Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1), and elongation of very long-chain fatty acids 2 (ELOVL2), were significantly decreased in the fish fed different dietary histidine levels (P<0.05) (Figures 8(b) and 8(d–f)). However, different dietary histidine levels showed no significant effect on the mRNA levels of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) (P>0.05) (Figure 8(c)).Figure 7
The relative expressions of PPARα signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)Figure 8
The relative expressions of PPARγ signaling pathway in liver of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)


## 3.6. The Hepatic Oil Red O Stain and Lipid Content

The positive area ratio of hepatic oil red O staining showed a significant lower trend with the increase of dietary histidine levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, the lipid content of liver also showed a similar trend with positive area ratio of oil red stain (P<0.05) (Figure 9).Figure 9
The hepatic oil red O staining and lipid content of juvenile largemouth bass fed with different levels of dietary histidine. Data are expressed as means with S.E.M.; value with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).


## 4. Discussion

In this study, dietary histidine deficiency inhibited the growth of largemouth bass, which showed a decrease observed in the final weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, protein efficiency rate, and an increase observed in the feed conversion rate and feed intake rate. The results were similar to the reports in many kinds of fish such as grass carp [6], Nile tilapia [8], red drum [9], Jian carp [10], large yellow croaker [11], blunt snout bream [13], etc. In the lowest level of dietary histidine (0.71%), no overt deficiency signs, other than reduced growth, were observed in this study, which was similar to the fingerling Indian catfish [7]. However, cataract symptoms were observed in fish fed the histidine-deficient diet in red drum [9], and there was also a close relationship between dietary histidine level and the incidence of cataracts in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) [41]. It is reported that N-acetylhistidine could be synthesized in the lens and was formed by the acetylation of histidine, which can happens rapidly in the lens and relieve cataracts [42]. Hence, histidine might play an important role in preventing cataract in aquatic animals. Different from this study, this could be due to the lower histidine levels in the experiment of juvenile red drum [9]. Based on the feed conversion rate and specific growth rate, the appropriate dietary histidine level was 1.26% of diet (2.68% of dietary protein) by quadratic regression analysis, which was similar to the requirements reported in grass carp (3.2% of dietary protein) [6], Nile tilapia (3.1% of dietary protein) [8], Jian carp (2.38% of dietary protein) [10], and stinging catfish (2.48% of dietary protein) [43]. However, it was higher than the reports in Indian catfish (1.35% of dietary protein) [7] and red drum (1.6% of dietary protein) [9]. These differences might be due to the differences of fish size, ingredients types, protein sources, feed palatability, fish species, and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the GH-IGF-1 axis had an improtant role in regulating somatic growth [44]. In this study, the mRNA levels of GH and IGF-1 were significantly upregulated by 1.08%-1.67% dietary histidine levels, which partly explained the reason that histidine supplementation could improve the growth performance of largemouth bass.There are two known signaling pathways that can sense amino acid content, TOR signaling system, which senses amino acid abundance, and AAR signaling pathway, which senses amino acid balance [12]. In this study, appropriate histidine levels significantly increased the TOR and S6 gene expression and inhibited the expression of 4EBP1 gene. A similar trend was observed for growth performance and the protein content of the whole body. Previous studies have confirmed that appropriate histidine levels could activate TOR signaling pathway in grass carp and blunt snout bream, which affected the downstream gene expression to regulate protein synthesis [13, 19, 20]. Furthermore, our previous studies showed that adequate AA supplementation for grass carp and blunt snout bream could significantly activated the TOR signaling pathway and improve growth performance, protein synthesis and protein deposition [26, 38]. The AAR signaling pathway, another nutrient-sensing signaling pathway, is responsible for sensing amino acid deficiency and thus maintaining homeostasis [12, 16–18]. Furthermore, the AAR signaling pathway was activated by upregulating the expression genes of the AAR signaling pathway including GCN2, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, and REDD1. The expression of these genes tended to a decrease tend with increased dietary histidine levels, which was the opposite trend with the mRNA levels of TOR and S6. The present study showed that fish also have a dynamic regulatory mechanism of nutrition; AA deficiencies may activate the AAR signaling pathways to elevate uncharged tRNAs levels and further binds to GCN2, which depressed whole amino acid translation and synthesis under nutrient stress [16–18]. However, adequate AA levels could facilitate growth and protein synthesis by the TOR signaling pathway [23, 45]. All of these results show that the two signaling pathways respond together to maintain the body in a state of optimal growth during nutritional status changes [17, 18]. These results are strongly supported by extensive research literature on the TOR/AAR-sensing pathways in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) [46], turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.), [47] and largemouth bass [17, 18]. Hence, dietary histidine levels can be sensed by TOR and AAR signaling pathways by regulating the key genes expressions of TOR, S6, GCN2, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, and REDD1, which systematically regulate amino acid homeostasis in the fish.Recently, amino acids have been widely identified as signaling molecules that regulate lipid metabolism in aquatic animals [22, 23]. PPARα, as one of the PPARs subtypes, is responsible for regulating β oxidation and promoting lipid metabolism [30]. In this study, the mRNA levels of PPARα were increased with the increase of dietary histidine levels, which further downregulated the downstream target genes, including CPT1 and L-FABP. In Nile tilapia, fenofibrate activated PPARα to show a hypolipidemic effect [48]. Furthermore, 200 mg/kg gemfibrozil (an agonist of PPARα) activated PPARα to promote lipid catabolism by improving the tolerance of Nile tilapia to a high-sugar diet and alleviating the negative effects caused by a high-sugar diet [49]. However, the deletion of PPARα in mice downregulated the mRNA levels of lipid catabolism-related genes, and metabolism was blocked in mice fed high-lipid diet. This resulted in a marked increase in hepatic lipid deposition and even led to the eventual occurrence of obesity [50]. All of these results demonstrated that dietary histidine supplementation reduced lipid deposition by activating the PPARα signaling pathway. PGC-1α, as a PPARγ coactivator, is to regulate lipid metabolism [51]. In this study, the mRNA levels of PGC1α were upregulated by dietary histidine levels. It has been reported that PPARα relies on PGC1α to effectively exert its lipid-lowering effect effectively [51]. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of PGC1α were also upregulated when PPARα was activated, which confirmed that PGC1α is one of the key coactivators in the regulation of fatty acid catabolism by PPARα in the cardiac metabolic stress response [52]. These results indicated that PGC1α might coordinate with PPARα to induce the gene expression of fatty acid catabolism-related enzymes to regulate lipid metabolism. Furthermore, PPARγ is another important regulator of lipid metabolism [29]. In this study, the PPARγ mRNA levels were decreased with increasing dietary histidine levels. This further downregulated its downstream genes, including FAS, ACC, and ELOVL2. These results showed that dietary histidine deficiency might increase lipid synthesis by upregulation of the PPARγ, FAS, ACC, and ELOVL2, and dietary histidine supplementation could inhibit lipid synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The antiobesity effects of dietary-supplemented amino acids have been reported [53]. However, different from our study, the lipid content of whole-body composition was increased with the supplementary histidine levels in fingerling Indian catfish [7]. This difference might be due to the low level of histidine compared with our study. Moreover, it has been reported that SREBP1, as a transcription factor of fatty acid synthesis, can interact with PPARγ to promote lipid synthesis [54]. In this study, the expression of SREBP1 showed a similar trend, indicating that SREBP1 might perform a function in activating PPARγ to regulate lipid synthesis. The main mechanism of SREBP1 acts to control the production of endogenous ligand(s) of PPARγ and coordinate these lipid-forming factors [55]. Generally speaking, all of the results described were also supported by liver lipid content, serum triglyceride levels, and the positive area of oil red O staining. Similar to our study, dietary lysine supplementation reduced lipid deposits in grass carp [26]. However, the higher lipid content was improved when amino acid supplementation was excessive or appropriate such as lysine in arginine in blunt snout bream [22] and freshwater catfish (Mystus nemurus) [56], methionine in rainbow trout [46]. Different dietary amino acid supply conditions might also have completely opposite consequences in different species [26]. The mechanism of this difference is still unclear and further investigation is needed.


## 5. Conclusion

Histidine played an important role in the regulation of growth, protein metabolism and lipid metabolism. Largemouth bass could regulate the protein metabolism response to different dietary histidine levels by the AAR and TOR signaling pathways. Furthermore, increasing dietary histidine level could reduce lipid accumulation by regulating PPARα and PPARγ signaling pathways (Figure 10), which suggested that increasing histidine supplementation might effectively alleviate fatty liver problems of largemouth bass. Based on the feed conversion rate and specific growth rate, the appropriate dietary histidine level was 1.26% of diet (2.68% of dietary protein), as determined by quadratic regression analysis.Figure 10
Scheme summarizing the nutrient metabolism in response to dietary histidine levels in juvenile largemouth bass.



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*Source: 4034922-2022-10-25.xml*