The Influence of Dietary n-3 Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Growth, Fatty Acid Profile, Lipid Metabolism, Inflammatory Response, and Intestinal Microflora in F2 Generation Female Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus)

Simple SummaryFive groups of Yangtze sturgeon were fed diets containing varying levels of high unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs); each fish had an initial weight of 3.60 ± 0.83 kg and was fed for a duration of 10 months. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of these diets on growth performance, fatty acid composition, lipid metabolism, inflammatory factors, and intestinal microbial composition. The findings revealed that the group receiving a diet with 1.0% to 1.5% n-3 HUFA exhibited the highest weight gain rate. Conversely, the group fed a diet containing 0.5% n-3 HUFA had the highest triglyceride levels. Notably, the fatty acid composition of the fish bodies mirrored those of their respective diets. Additionally, specific inflammation-related and lipid-metabolism genes were significantly regulated by n-3 HUFA. Across all groups, Cetobacterium emerged as the dominant genus in the intestinal microbiota. Based on the polyline model, incorporating 1.3% n-3 HUFA into the diet was found to be most conducive to weight gain. These results offer novel insights into the regulation of growth, lipid metabolism, and overall health in F2 female Yangtze sturgeon, and provide valuable nutritional strategies for the artificial conservation of this endangered species.