Investigation of antioxidant and immunostimulant effect of bee pollen on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, W.)

In this study, effects of bee pollen on immunological and oxidant/antioxidant parameters of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) were investigated. In the research, total 120 rainbow trout that averagely weighted 100 ± 10 g were used. Diets containing % 1, % 2 and % 4 pollen were given to the fish for 21 days. Blood and tissue (liver, kidney, and spleen) samples were collected at the end of the experiment and analysed to determine the immunological parameters (haematocrit level, oxidative radical production (nitroblue tetrazolium-NBT activity), total plasma protein and total immunoglobulin levels) and oxidant/antioxidant status (paraoxonase and arylesterase enzyme activities, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activities). There was a statistically significant increase in haematocrit level, oxidative radical production, total protein and immunoglobulin levels of pollen-treated groups when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The tissue malondialdehyde levels of the pollen-treated groups were decreased, while the reduced glutathione levels and the glutathione peroxidase activities were increased when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant change in the paraoxonase, arylesterase and glutathione S-transferase activities was observed between the pollen-treated groups and the control group (p > 0.05).