What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore how probiotic supplementation during refeeding affects growth and physiological responses after fasting in Nile tilapia.

March 10, 2026Open Access

Physiological Benefits of Probiotic Refeeding After Short-Term Fasting in Nile Tilapia: Growth Performance, Histomorphological, and Gene Expression Responses

Key Points

The research aims to explore how probiotic supplementation during refeeding affects growth and physiological responses after fasting in Nile tilapia.
Three groups of tilapia were either continuously fed or subjected to fasting and refeeding with different diets.
Growth performance metrics were recorded, and muscle samples were analyzed for histomorphological and gene expression changes.
Quantitative real-time PCR assessed levels of various antioxidant and growth-related genes.
Probiotic-fed fish showed superior growth recovery compared to those on a basal diet after fasting.
Gene expression analysis indicated that probiotics enhanced antioxidant, growth, and anti-inflammatory genes while normalizing myostatin levels.
Muscle atrophy induced by fasting was most effectively reversed in the probiotic group.

Abstract

This study investigated the physiological benefits of probiotic supplementation during refeeding after short-term fasting in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 180 fish were assigned to three groups: continuously fed control or subjected to 5 days of fasting followed by 15 days of refeeding with either a basal or probiotic-enriched diet containing Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. pumilus. Growth performance indices (body weight, length, weight gain, specific growth rate, condition factor, relative feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) were measured. Muscle samples were collected for histomorphological evaluation and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of antioxidant genes catalase (cat) and superoxide dismutase 2 (sod-2), growth-related genes insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf-1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (soc-2), anti-inflammatory gene transforming growth factor beta (tgf-β), and myostatin genes. Fasting significantly reduced (p 0.05 vs. control). Histological evaluation showed fasting-induced muscle atrophy, which was most effectively reversed by probiotics. Overall, probiotics accelerated recovery, highlighting their potential to optimize post-fasting growth in aquaculture.

Physiological Benefits of Probiotic Refeeding After Short-Term Fasting in Nile Tilapia: Growth Performance, Histomorphological, and Gene Expression Responses

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Abstract

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