Can Vitamin C Influence Proximate Composition, Morphometric, Haematological and Some Antioxidants Indices of Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fingerlings?

Abstract

The impacts of vitamin C on morphometric and haematological parameters as well as proximate composition and production levels of Reduced glutathione (GSH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated for a period of 12 weeks. A total of 250 samples of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings were acclimatized for two weeks during which they were fed to satiation twice daily. These were then distributed into three treatments and replicates including control with each trough containing 15 samples thus; 350mg/L (T1), 450mg/L (T2 ) and 600mg/L (T3). Three samples of the samples were picked at random bi weekly; and the following measurements were made: Total Length (TL), Standard Length (SL) and Weight (W). The percentage weight gain (PWG), specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (CF) and percentage hepatosomatic index (%HI) were also calculated at the end of the experiment. Three samples of the fish were also randomly selected and blood samples collected for hematological analyses. Three samples of fish were selected randomly at the end of the 12 weeks of the experiment and sacrificed; kidneys, livers and gills were excised and homogenized in phosphate buffer. These were then assayed for GSH and MDA following standard methods. Proximate compositions of the fish were determined from two randomly selected samples following standard procedures. The data generated were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and considered significant at P˂0.05. From the results, the maximum SL (20.80±1.10cm),TL (23.90± 0.80cm) and W (82.65±0.40g) were obtained in T1. The highest SGR and CF were also obtained in T1. While T2 had the peak PWG. The total white blood cells count, packed cell volume and blood haemoglobin in T1 were significantly different from all other treatments. The blood platelets and red blood cells count increased significantly as the concentration of the vitamin increased. The proximate composition indicated peak protein content (20.58±0.26%) in T3. The moisture content decreased with increase in the concentration of the vitamin with 75.04±0.12% as the maximum. The GSH production levels in the livers, kidneys and gills increased with increase in the concentration of the vitamin with T3 mean values significantly higher than other treatments including the control. The MDA activities decreased with increase in the concentration of the vitamin in all the organs of interest, and the lowest mean values were obtained in T3. The results of this research have indicated that vitamin C is an invaluable addition capable of improving the health and physiological status of the fish and hence, lead to improved fish farming.