Effects of dietary cholesterol on growth characteristic, hepatopancreas health, lipid profile and reproductive potential of Macrobrachium rosenbergii broodstock

Cholesterol is an essential nutrient for crustaceans. This study investigated the effects of dietary cholesterol on growth, metabolism, immunity, and reproduction in Macrobrachium rosenbergii broodstock using integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. The results found that the weight gain of prawn fed 8.2 g/kg cholesterol was significantly greater than 1.0 g/kg. In 4.4, 8.2, and 10.7 g/kg groups, the secretory cells became larger, and the morphology of storage cells was clearly visible. Compared to 1.0 g/kg, the density of yolk granule significantly increased in prawn fed other diets. With the dietary cholesterol level increased, the contents of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed an upward trend. The alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased with increasing dietary cholesterol levels. Prawn fed 4.4 and 8.2 g/kg cholesterol exhibited a significant increase in estradiol content compared to 1.0 g/kg. The predictions of common KEGG pathways included ‘Retinol metabolism’, ‘Arginine biosynthesis’, ‘Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism’, ‘Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism’, and ‘Glycerophospholipid metabolism’. In conclusion, suitable cholesterol supplementation enhanced the hepatopancreas health, lipid profile, immune performance, reproductive potential of M. rosenbergii . Based on the weight gain, the optimum level of dietary cholesterol in prawn feed was about 8.2 g/kg. • Dietary cholesterol enhanced the hepatopancreas health, lipid profile, immune performance, reproductive capacity. • Dietary cholesterol influenced pathways related to amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. • Based on the weight gain, the optimum level of dietary cholesterol was about 8.2 g/kg.