LAUSR

One hundred and twenty crabs (initial weight: 51.32 ± 0.06 g) were fed three experimental diets with cottonseed meal protein hydrolysate (CPH) at 0, 6 and 12 g/kg for 60 days. The results showed that CPH0.6 diet significantly improved the 1‐hr feed intake, protease activity and weight gain of crabs. In thoracic ganglia, 4E‐binding protein (4E‐BP) expression level of crab fed the diets containing CPH was significantly higher than CPH0 group. In cerebral ganglia, protein kinase B and 4E‐BP expression levels of crab fed CPH0.6 diets were significantly lower than CPH0 group. In mid‐intestine, target of rapamycin (TOR) relative expression level of crabs fed the diets containing CPH was significantly lower than CPH0 group. 4E‐BP expression level showed an opposite pattern. In thoracic ganglia, cerebral ganglia and mid‐intestine, leptin receptor expression level of crabs fed CPH0.6 diet was significantly lower than CPH0 group. Neuropeptide Y and neuropeptide Y receptor expression level of crab fed CPH0.6 diet was significantly higher than CPH0 group. In conclusion, our results indicated that dietary supplementation of 6 g/kg CPH could stimulate appetite and quicken feeding rate via the TOR signalling pathway.