Growth and endocrine effects of recombinant bovine growth hormone treatment in non-transgenic and growth hormone transgenic coho salmon.

To examine the relative growth, endocrine, and gene expression effects of growth hormone (GH) transgenesis vs. GH protein treatment, wild-type non-transgenic and GH transgenic coho salmon were treated with a sustained-release formulation of recombinant bovine GH (bGH; Posilac). Fish size, specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF) were monitored for 14 weeks, after which endocrine parameters were measured. Transgenic fish had much higher growth, SGR and CF than non-transgenic fish, and bGH injection significantly increased weight and SGR in non-transgenic but not transgenic fish. Plasma salmon GH concentrations decreased with bGH treatment in non-transgenic but not in transgenic fish where levels were similar to controls. Higher GH mRNA levels were detected in transgenic muscle and liver but no differences were observed in GH receptor (GHR) mRNA levels. In non-transgenic pituitary, GH and GHR mRNA levels per mg pituitary decreased with bGH dose to levels seen in transgenic salmon. Plasma IGF-I was elevated with bGH dose only in non-transgenic fish, while transgenic fish maintained an elevated level of IGF-I with or without bGH treatment. A similar trend was seen for liver IGF-I mRNA levels. Thus, bGH treatment increased fish growth and influenced feedback on endocrine parameters in non-transgenic but not in transgenic fish. A lack of further growth stimulation of GH transgenic fish suggests that these fish are experiencing maximal growth stimulation via GH pathways.

Growth hormone transgenesis influences carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism capacity for energy production in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).

Growth hormone (GH) transgenesis results in increased growth, feed intake and consequent metabolic rates in fish, and alters the utilization of dietary and stored carbohydrates, lipid and protein. However, the manner in which GH transgenesis differentially alters these energy sources in fish has not been well explored. We examined the effects of GH transgenesis and dietary carbohydrate, lipid and protein levels on metabolic enzyme activity in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). In white muscle, increased activities of glycolytic enzymes and decreased activities of lipolytic enzymes in transgenic fish indicate a sparing of lipids through the preferential use of carbohydrates for energy production. In liver, transgenic fish showed increased activity of lipid synthesis enzymes and a shift in amino acid metabolism from catabolic to synthetic roles, suggesting a larger emphasis on anabolic pathways in transgenic fish to support accelerated growth. Unlike nontransgenic fish, transgenic fish fed a diet high in carbohydrates maintained growth rates, had increased capacity for lipid synthesis, and increased potential for biosynthetic roles of amino acids. GH transgenesis influences metabolic reactions in coho salmon by emphasizing carbohydrate degradation for energy production and lipid synthesis, and increasing utilization of lipids and proteins for synthetic roles necessary to maintain accelerated growth.

Endocrine effects of growth hormone overexpression in transgenic coho salmon.

Non-transgenic (wild-type) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), growth hormone (GH) transgenic salmon (with highly elevated growth rates), and GH transgenic salmon pair fed a non-transgenic ration level (and thus growing at the non-transgenic rate) were examined for plasma hormone concentrations, and liver, muscle, hypothalamus, telencephalon, and pituitary mRNA levels. GH transgenic salmon exhibited increased plasma GH levels, and enhanced liver, muscle and hypothalamic GH mRNA levels. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in plasma, and growth hormone receptor (GHR) and IGF-I mRNA levels in liver and muscle, were higher in fully fed transgenic than non-transgenic fish. GHR mRNA levels in transgenic fish were unaffected by ration-restriction, whereas plasma GH was increased and plasma IGF-I and liver IGF-I mRNA were decreased to wild-type levels. These data reveal that strong nutritional modulation of IGF-I production remains even in the presence of constitutive ectopic GH expression in these transgenic fish. Liver GHR membrane protein levels were not different from controls, whereas, in muscle, GHR levels were elevated approximately 5-fold in transgenic fish. Paracrine stimulation of IGF-I by ectopic GH production in non-pituitary tissues is suggested by increased basal cartilage sulphation observed in the transgenic salmon. Levels of mRNA for growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and cholecystokinin (CCK) did not differ between groups. Despite its role in appetite stimulation, neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA was not found to be elevated in transgenic groups.