Page 189 - 《水产学报》2025年第10期

刘海静，等 水产学报, 2025, 49(10): 109613

Effects of vitamin B on the gonad growth, texture traits, collagen deposition
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and related gene expression of sea urchin (Mesocentrotus nudus)

LIU Haijing , GONG Panke , ZENG Haiqing , CAO Jiahao , GOU Dan , DING Jun ,
CHANG Yaqing , ZUO Rantao *
Key Laboratory of Mariculture and Stock Enhancement in North China’s Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,
Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China

Abstract: The market value of sea urchin gonads depends on gonad size and texture. This study investigated the effects of diet-
ary vitamin B 2 on gonad growth, texture, collagen content and related gene expression in Mesocentrotus nudus. Three formu-
lated feeds were supplemented with 0, 15 and 30 mg/kg vitamin B 2 ; fresh kelp (Saccharina japonica) served as the control.
Each diet was randomly assigned to three tanks of M. nudus [initial body weight: (3.63 ± 0.02) g]. The results indicated that the
gonadosomatic index (GSI) and texture traits (hardness, springiness, adhesiveness, gumminess and water content) of M. nudus
fed kelp were significantly lower than those fed formulated feeds. The GSI and texture traits of M. nudus fed 15 mg/kg vitamin
B 2 were significantly greater than those fed 0 and 30 mg/kg vitamin B 2 . The gonad collagen content of sea urchins fed 15
mg/kg vitamin B 2 was significantly higher than those fed kelp, 0 and 30 mg/kg vitamin B 2 . The expression levels of collagen
synthesis genes (collagen protein alpha-1, 2 and 3) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)/Sma- and Mad-related protein
(Smad) pathway genes [TGF-β receptor 1 and 2, smad nuclear-interacting protein 1 (SNIP1) and prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit
beta (P4Hβ)] of M. nudus fed 15 mg/kg vitamin B 2 were significantly higher than those fed 0 and 30 mg/kg vitamin B 2 . On the
contrary, the expression levels of collagen degradation genes [lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) and matrix metalloproteinase 14
(MMP14)] in the 15 mg/kg vitamin B 2 group were significantly lower than those in the 0 and 30 mg/kg vitamin B 2 and kelp
groups. In conclusion, vitamin B 2 at 15 mg/kg improves gonad texture and collagen content in M. nudus by enhancing collagen
synthesis and suppressing degradation through the TGF-β/Smad pathway, providing insights into vitamin B 2 supplementation
for gonad quality enhancement.
Key words: Mesocentrotus nudus; vitamin B 2 ; gonad growth; texture traits; collagen content; TGF-β/Smad

Corresponding author: ZUO Rantao. E-mail: rtzuo@dlou.edu.cn
Funding projects: Xingliao Talent Plan for Top Young Talents (XLYC2203036); High-level Talent Support Grant for Innova-
tion in Dalian (2022RJ14); Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (2023-MSLH-015); Natural Science Foundation
of Education Department of Liaoning Province (LJKMZ20221096)

中国水产学会主办 sponsored by China Society of Fisheries https://www.china-fishery.cn
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