Characteristics of some digestive enzymes in sobaity, Sparidentex hasta

BACKGROUND: Determination of digestive enzymes activitywould provide critical information in the design of appropriatediet. Sobaity, Sparidentex hasta is found in the PersianGulf and cultured in countries adjacent to it. OBJECTIVES: Thisstudy investigated proteolytic, amylase and lipase activities inthe intestine of Sparidentex hasta captured from the PersianGulf. METHODS: 60 immature S. hasta (mean weight: 520 ±50g) were captured during summer and autumn of 2012 fromMussa Creek, North West of the Persian Gulf. After euthanization,fish were dissected and the complete digestive tracts(from stomach to anus) were removed. The intestines wereseparated for each fish and divided to 3 parts; proximal, midportion and distal. After homogenization, supernatants wereremoved and enzymes activities were assayed chemically.RESULTS: The highest activity of protease (395.2 ± 32.6 mUmg-1 protein) was recorded in the proximal portion of the intestinecompare to the 2 other parts (p<0.05) but amylase andlipase activities did not show a significant difference in 3 partsof the intestine (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showedthat the pattern of activity of digestive enzymes in S. hasta isconsistent with the overall pattern of digestive enzymes activityin carnivorous fish. These data can be used to design specialdiets for this species.