Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Animal and Nutritional Sciences

Committee Chair

Kenneth P. Blemings.

Abstract

This study focused on lysine catabolism by the lysine alpha-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR) pathway in rainbow trout (RBT). Selective breeding based on feed efficiency in 2 strains (A and B) of RBT generated 2 families within each strain. Eight fish from each of the four families were randomly allotted to individual tanks. Fish were fed until satiation for 3 wks at which time four fish within each family were randomly selected for 2 wks of starvation. After the 2 wk starvation, all fish were harvested. Hepatic in-vitro LKR activity and lysine oxidation (LOX) were measured as was LKR mRNA abundance. Strain A exhibited a 55% reduction in LKR transcripts compared to strain B pooled across both feeding levels (P < 0.01). LKR mRNA was decreased (P < 0.01) in starved versus fed fish. No differences were detected for LKR activity and LOX between fed and starved fish, between strains or between families. LKR transcripts were positively correlated to weight gain (p < 0.01).

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