Effects of Dietary Perilla Oil and Enteromorpha compressa Meal on Growth, Fatty Acid Composition and Hematology of the Cultured Sweet Smelt (Plecoglossus altivelis)

Sweet smelt (Plecoglossus altivelis) were fed four different diets supplemented with either perilla oil $(2.0\%)$ rich in 18:3n-3 (CP), and perilla oil and Enteromorpha compressa meal $(2.0\%)$ (CPA), soybean oil rich in 18:2n-6 (CO), or soybean oil and algal meal (CA) for 4 weeks. The growth performance, fatty acid composition of muscle, plasma lipid peroxidation and blood components of the sweet smelt were then determined. The specific growth rate and feed efficiency in the fish fed the CPA diet were the highest, while the other groups showed similar results. The fatty acid composition of muscle in sweet smelt reflected the dietary lipids; 18:3n-3 was higher in the fish fed the CP and CPA diets, and 18:2n-6 was higher in the fish fed the CO and CA diets. The other fatty acid profiles presented almost no differences with respect to the diet composition. The fish fed the CA, CP and CPA diets contained significantly lower levels of triglyceride, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and hydroxyl radical in their plasma than that fed the CO diet. Phagocytic activity was the highest in the fish fed the CPA diet and higher in those of the fish fed the CP and CA diets compared to the CO diet group. The results from this study suggest that a dietary supplement of $2.0\%$ perilla oil together with $2.0\%$ E. compressa meal may improve the growth and health of cultured sweet smelt.