Hypoxia mediates Hif-1α to affect myofiber development and Vc regulates the influence by activating Shh-Gli pathway in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

An 8 weeks feeding trial and a cell culture were conducted to determine the effects of hypoxia and vitamin C (Vc) on muscle development of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). In vivo, the channel catfish (average initial weight 14.50 ± 0.15 g) were divided into four groups, normoxia (DO 7.5 ± 0.5 mg/L) with 50 mg/kg of Vc (N50), hypoxia (DO 5.0 ± 0.5 mg/L) with 50 mg/kg of Vc (H50), hypoxia with 250 mg/kg of Vc (H250), and hypoxia with 500 mg/kg of Vc (H500). Results indicated that the specific growth rate (SGR) of fish in the H50 was significantly lower than the N50 and H250 (P