The effects of the beta-agonist ractopamine on growth hormone and intermediary metabolite concentrations in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Abstract

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), with a mean initial weight of 196 g were fed the β-agonist ractopamine incorporated into a commercial rainbow trout diet at 0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 p.p.m. for 12 weeks. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design, with five treatments and four replicate tanks. At the start of the trial and every 4 weeks subsequently, fish were euthanized, and blood serum and liver samples were collected. Serum glucose concentrations were significantly higher in fish fed 40 p.p.m. ractopamine for 8 weeks, while all treated groups demonstrated significantly elevated glucose levels relative to controls at the 12 weeks sampling interval. Nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were significantly higher in fish fed 5 and 20 p.p.m. ractopamine for 4 weeks, but those fed 10 p.p.m. displayed depressed NEFA concentrations compared to controls. At 4 weeks, plasma growth hormone (GH) levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the 5, 20 and 40 p.p.m. groups compared to controls. The results suggest that dietary administration of ractopamine to rainbow trout modestly alters the concentrations of circulating GH, glucose and NEFA.