Effect of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushroom extract on the growth and resistance of the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt, 1856) juveniles

Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a preparation of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushroom on the early stages of development of Russian sturgeon in terms of growth rate, survival and activity of enzymes that play an important role in the development of the overall resistance. Methodology. The object of the study was Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt, 1856) juveniles, which were grown for 28 days in tanks at a stocking density of 800 ind./m2. Enrichment of nauplii for feeding two experimental groups was carried out at the rate of 5 mg/g and 35 mg/g, respectively. For the control group – no enrichment was done. The daily growth rate and cumulative survival rate of sturgeons were studied. Enzyme activity was determined in the supernatant of intestinal homogenate. α-Amylase activity was determined by the Caraway method. Alanine aminotransferase activity was determined by the Reitman-Frenkel method. Alkaline phosphatase activity was determined by reaction with phenylphosphate. Numerical material was processed using variational statistics methods using MS Excel and Statistica 12.0. Findings. The use of a Lentinula edodes preparation led to an increase in the average body weight of Russian sturgeon at the end of the experiment by 27.4%. In the last week of the experiment, the growth rate in the first and second experimental groups was 1.5 and 1.6 times higher than the control, respectively. Cumulative survival rate over 28 days of the experiment was 31.7%, 47.3%, and 85.0% in the control, first, and second experimental groups, respectively. After 28 days of the experiment, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in intestinal tissues was higher in both experimental groups by 2.13 and 4.53 times, respectively (p < 0.05). Probable changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity were observed in the first and fourth weeks of the experiment. Transamination activity in experimental groups No. 1 and No. 2 was 16.5% and 36.5% higher, respectively, compared to the control group. After 28 days, an increase in the activity of hydrolytic processes was observed in both experimental groups, exceeding the values ​​in the control group by 2.6 times and 9.6 times, respectively. These values coincide with the processes of active growth of the sturgeon body. As a result of using the shiitake preparation for 28 days, homeostasis maintenance becomes more stable due to replenishment of the energy pool of sugars, as well as activation of transferases, which increases the body’s stress resistance. Originality. For the first time, the impact of shiitake mushroom on growth rates, survival, and activity of enzymes – transferases and hydrolases, which play an important role in the formation of the overall resistance of the Russian sturgeon body in the early stages of its development was assessed. Practical Value. The results obtained contribute to the improvement of the technology of growing sturgeon fish juveniles. The use of this data will allow increasing the productivity of cultivation and obtain high-quality, healthy sturgeon stock.