Long-term dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) supplementation on growth, immune response, and antioxidant status in juvenile stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus).

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on growth performance, immune responses, and antioxidant status in juvenile stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus). A total of 120 juvenile sturgeons (121.02 ± 5.91 g) were randomly distributed into four groups, each with three replicates, including a control diet without PQQ and three experimental diets supplemented with 1.5, 3, and 4.5 mg/kg PQQ for 86 days. Following the feeding trial, growth performance was evaluated, and immune markers in both serum and mucus were analyzed, along with serum antioxidant enzyme activities. The results showed that the diet containing 3 and 4.5 mg/kg PQQ significantly improved growth parameters compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Immune indicators, particularly serum and mucus lysozyme activity (in serum of all groups and mucus of group 3 mg/kg) and total immunoglobulin (3 and 4.5 mg/kg) levels, were significantly enhanced in PQQ-supplemented groups (P < 0.05). ACH50 activity was significantly increased in all groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A significant increase in soluble mucus protein was observed at 3 and 4.5 mg/kg compared to the control group. Furthermore, PQQ supplementation markedly improved SOD activity across all doses, increased CAT activity at 3 and 4.5 mg/kg, and modulated GPx activity at 1.5 and 3 mg/kg. These results demonstrate that dietary PQQ effectively enhances immune function and growth, leading to improved health and production in juvenile stellate sturgeon.