Effects of Mountain Spring Water Purification on Interferon Expression in Yellow Catfish

Abstract

The yellow catfish is an important freshwater economic fish in China. Under traditional farming practices, the extensive use of antibiotics has led to frequent diseases and a decline in disease resistance among fish. Mountain spring water purification farming, as a new farming model, offers a better growth environment for fish due to its pure water quality, Rich in minerals and dissolved oxygen, this study compares the interferon expression and histopathological characteristics of yellow catfish in the feeding group (traditional farming model) with those in the purification group (mountain spring water purification farming model). The aim is to investigate the impact of mountain spring water purification farming on the immune function of yellow catfish. The results indicate that the expression levels of IRF3, IRF7, IFNgr, and PfIFN genes in the muscle, intestine, and liver organs of the purification group were significantly higher than those in the feeding group. This suggests that mountain spring water purification can effectively activate the expression of relevant immune genes in yellow catfish, thereby enhancing their disease resistance. Furthermore, histopathological analysis revealed that the lipid metabolism capacity of liver cells and intestinal cells in the purification group was enhanced, with fewer lipid droplets and more regular cell morphology. The findings of this study suggest that mountain spring water purification farming not only provides a high-quality growth environment for yellow catfish but also significantly enhances their immune function by activating immune signaling pathways and regulating lipid metabolism. These results offer new ideas and methods for the healthy farming of yellow catfish, which are of great theoretical and practical significance.