Effects of antimicrobial peptides on growth, morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of different levels (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) of antimicrobial peptides on growth, protease activity of foregut, the morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression level in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The results showed that the feed of antimicrobial peptides promote common carp growth, and the optimal dosage of antimicrobial peptides is 200–333 mg/kg in the common carp feed. The protease activity of 200 and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control and other groups (p