THE EFFECT OF β-CONGLYCININ AND GUT HISTOLOGY OF THE SUNSHINE BASS FED DIETS WITH NEW VARIETIES OF NON-GM SOYBEANS

It is reported that the soybean protein (β-conglycinin) might cause inflammation of the distal intestine, and stimulate endogenous cholecystokinin release suppresses food intake in fish.  

We are studying the effects of meals made from new strains of non-GMO soybeans with high protein and reduced anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) on Sunshine bass ( ♀ Morone chrysops x ♂ M. saxatilis) nutrient retention, immune response to β-conglycinin, and gut histological changes in the proximal and distal intestine.

The hypothesis is that new non-GMO soybeans with fewer ANFs will result in improved fish gut epithelium (proximal and distal) compared to standard soybean meal, which should permit higher inclusion rates of soybean meals in hybrid striped bass diets and reduce reliance on fish meal.

The control diets were formulated either with fish meal, or soy protein concentrate as a positive control or with Ozark as a negative control. All the test diets were formulated with 100% FM protein was replaced with either one of the non-GM soybean meal (R05 1415 SBM, or R05 1772 SBM, or R07 2001)

The gut and serum samples were collected from the initial soy naïve fish for gut histology and soy antigen. Four hundred fifty sunshine bass (Average wt 5g) were stocked in a randomly assigned 18 tanks (N=25, 3 tanks per diet). Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation for ten+ weeks. At the end of the trial, the gut and serum samples were collected from the fish fed diet with FM and different soybean meals. The samples are being analyzed for the immune response to β-conglycinin and any changes in the gut histology (gut enteritis) due to soy antigens if any, the results will be presented at the meeting.