ANABOLIC EFFECT OF 17- METHYLTESTOSTERONE HORMONE ON CERTAIN BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF FISH, TILAPIA MOSSAMBICA

Abstract

One of the major sources of animal protein for human consumption is a fisheries resource. The demand for fishhas increased in recent years due to population growth and the constant search for a healthy diet. The present study was conducted to assess an anabolic impact of an androgenic hormone, 17-Methyltestosterone (MT) on Protein contentand RNA levels in certain tissues i.e. skeletal muscle, liver and gonad of fish, Tilapia mossambica. The hormone was incorporated in the feed and fed to the fish up to four weeks, in the form of three pelleted diets containing 4, 8 and 16 mg MT/ kg diet along with a fourth control group without hormone. The highest increment in tissue Protein content, RNA and DNA levels was observed under 16 mg MT/ kg diet followed by 8 mg MT/ kg diet and 4 mg MT/ kg diet in skeletal muscle, liver and gonad of fish. The more increase in Protein content, RNA and DNA levels was observed after 28 days of the 17-MT oral route of administration. Hence, it is clear that the anabolic hormones such as 17-MT hormone play an important role in enhancing the tissue protein content for nutritional purposes.There was not much change in DNA levels.