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 full-siblings for body composition, Percent protein was higher (P < 0.05), for transgenic individuals than for controls (19.5 vs. 18.1). Percent 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 amino acids examined the transgenic genotype had higher (P<0.05) levels for the amino acids aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, histidine, lysine and threonine. Observed values for transgenic individuals were higher for all amino acids except glycine, alanine, proline and tryptophan. 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 groups and fatty acid levels were unchanged in transgenic and control common carp.