Response of Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy) Juvenile on Oral Administration in Different Dose of Recombinant Growth Hormone

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the response of giant gourami juvenile on oral administration of recombinant giant grouper growth hormone (rElGH). A total of 45 juvenile were fed with rElGH coated by hydropropylmethyl cellulose phthalate (HP55) and mix with commercial diet (35% protein content). Feeding fish with diet containing four different doses of rElGH (0 mg/kg feed, 0.3 mg/kg feed, 3.0 mg/kg feed, and 30.0 mg/kg feed) was performed in twice a week for 2 month. Fish were then maintained for 1 month without rElGH treatment. The results showed that biomass harvest in treatment 3.0 mg/kg (1,376.0±38.3 g) and 30.0 mg/kg (1,362.2±78.5 g) was similar, and the two treatments were 46.76% and 44.28% higher compared to control (977.6±96.7 g), respectively. In addition, rElGH treatment increased appetite, while artificial feed conversion ratio (1.18) was lower (P<0.05) by 23.72% compared to that of control (1.46). Oral administration of rElGH also increased hepatosomatic index (16.12%) and protein content (17%), while lipid content (21%) decreased compared to control. Similar in fish survival at end of experiment, insulin-like growth factor-1 and growth hormone receptor-1 gene expression levels in brain at 24 hours after feeding in rElGH treatment and control were obtained. Thus, orally rElGH administration was effective to be applied to enhance the growth of giant gourami juvenile.