Digestive Enzyme Activities in Different Size Groups and Segments of the Digestive Tract in Labeo Rohita

In culture operations, the efficiency of a feed in promoting maximum growth in animal depends not only on its nutritive profile, but also on the animal’s inherent ability to consume, digest, absorb and metabolize the nutrients from the feed. Nutrient utilization in aquatic animals depends on the activity of their digestive enzymes [1,2]. Digestive processes in fish are less known than in animals, though the data obtained in fish so far show that the digestive enzymes studied are qualitatively similar to those observed in other invertebrates. It is known that age and/or stage of development significantly influences the digestive enzyme activity in different fish species [3,4], which can be used as a basis to develop feed formulation suitable for different sizes of fishes, so that optimal nutritional values and cost-effectiveness can be obtained. Further, the ability of fish to utilize ingested nutrients depends on the presence of appropriate enzymes in appropriate locations in the wall and along the lumen of the intestinal tract. Generally, distribution and intensity of intestinal enzyme activity along the gut varies with feeding habits and intestinal morphology [5-7].