Dietary supplementation of glutamine on growth performance, intestinal morphology, hematic, enzymatic and immunological responses of the Nile tilapia subjected to bacterial challenge

Abstract

Studies have shown that under appropriate conditions, glutamine is essential for cell proliferation, acting as a respiratory fuel for enterocytes and lymphocytes, with beneficial effects on the function of stimulated immune cells. Thus, specific components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems of Nile tilapia will be evaluated after supplementation of culture media with glutamine (GLN). Primary cell cultures of head-kidney macrophages will be used for phagocytic and bactericidal assays against Streptococcus iniae. Additionally, proliferation assays will be conducted with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) exposed to non-specific mitogens. To indirectly assess amino acid utilization of both macrophages and PBL, amino acid levels will be evaluated in the basal medium before and after activation or mitogenic exposure.