BODY-COMPOSITION OF TRANSGENIC COMMON CARP, CYPRINUS-CARPIO, CONTAINING RAINBOW-TROUT GROWTH-HORMONE GENE

F-1 transgenic common carp, Cyprinus carpio, containing rainbow trout growth hormone gene, pRSVrtGH, cDNA were compared to non-transgenic fu ll-siblings for body composition, Percent protein was higher (P < 0.05 ), for transgenic individuals than for controls (19.5 vs. 18.1). Perce nt fat was lower (P < 0.05) for transgenic common carp (3.3), than for non-transgenic controls, (3.8). Transgenic individuals had lower (P < 0.05) moisture content (70.9%), than controls (75.8%). Of the 18 amin o acids examined the transgenic genotype had higher (P<0.05) levels fo r the amino acids aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, histidine, ly sine and threonine. Observed values for transgenic individuals were hi gher for all amino acids except glycine, alanine, proline and tryptoph an. The actual ratio among the 18 amino acids remained the same except the percentages increased(P < 0.05) from 15.4 to 15.8%, and 2.7 to 3. 0% for glutamic acid and histidine and decreased from 6.6 to 4.9% for glycine, respectively, for transgenic individuals relative to controls , The essential amino acid ratios (A/E ratios) of lysine and histidine were higher (P < 0.05) in transgenic compared to control fish muscle. The C18:1 fatty acids dominated the fatty acid composition of both gr oups and fatty acid levels were unchanged in transgenic and control co mmon carp.