Effects of Diets Containing Different Concentration of Saccharina japonica Algae on Growth and Interleukin (IL)-10 Gene Expression of Juvenile Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

The effects of diets containing different concentration of Saccharina japonica algae (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) on growth and Interleukin (IL)-10 gene expression of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus were studied. At first, 08 weeks feeding trail was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of sea cucumbers fed with one of the six experimental diets. Result showed that sea cucumbers fed 15% Saccharina japonica algae diet had higher specific growth rate (SGR) and food conversion efficiency (FCE) than the other experimental diets (P<0.05). Secondly, Interleukin (IL)-10 gene expression was determined where mice splenocytes were treated with different experimental diets fed sea cucumber extracts for two hours. The highest Interleukin (IL)-10 gene expressions was found in 15% Saccharina japonica algae diets fed sea cucumbers extract compared to other diets except 10% Saccharina japonica algae diet. Results of this experiment suggest that 15% Saccharina japonica containing diet perform better growth and could elevate IL-10 gene expression. This information might be useful in the further development of more appropriate diets for the culture of sea cucumbers.