Untargeted LC–MS metabolomics reveals an adverse effect of high-fat diet on hepatic metabolism of Oreochromis niloticus

Hepatic steatosis commonly occurs in intensively farmed tilapia. This
disease is harmful to fish growth and health, but knowledge of the
metabolic changes in tilapia with fatty liver is limited. In the present
study, we compared genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis
niloticus) fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with those fed a normal-fat diet
(NFD) for 8 weeks using LC-MS-based hepatic metabolomic assays and
traditional nutritional assessments. Juvenile GIFT fed a HFD displayed
higher fat disposition in the liver than did those fed a NFD. The
metabolomic analyses revealed 61 differentially accumulated metabolites
between the groups, and these metabolites were involved in 37 signaling
pathways. Our results illustrate the development of metabolic disorders
related to various hepatic biological processes, including protein
metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and nucleotide
metabolism in HFD-fed GIFT. These physiological changes may be related to
the lower growth rate of GIFT. Overall, our study reveals the metabolic
disorders in GIFT fed HFD, and enhance our knowledge of the mechanism of
fatty liver formation in GIFT.