fed with duckweed were significantly higher than those fed with chironomid
larvae (P b 0.05). Fish fed with duckweed had significantly
higher growth than those fed with chironomid larvae at 60 days
(P b 0.05) in terms of total length, body length, gut length, body weight,
hepatopancreas weight, gut weight and the relative weight of gut
(Table 2).
3.2. Quantitative analysis of gene expression levels in the liver of grass
carp
The Egf mRNA expression level of fish fed with duckweed was higher
than those fed with chironomid larvae at 30 days (Fig. 1). The Igf I
mRNA levels in the liver of grass carp were significantly higher
(P b 0.05) in both groups at 60 days compared to 0 day (Fig. 1), but
not different between the two groups. The Igf II mRNA level of fish fed
with duckweed was significantly lower than those fed with chironomid
larvae at 30 days (P b 0.05) (Fig. 1). Compared with fish fed with chironomid
larvae, expressions of Npy, Npy Y8a, Npy Y8b and Ob-r in fish
fed with duckweed were significantly higher at 30 days (P b 0.05),
whereas the expression of Ob-rgrp was significantly lower at 60 days
(P b 0.05) (Fig. 2). The expression levels of Try, Amy and Bsal genes in
fish fed with duckweed were significantly higher than those fed with
chironomid larvae at 60 days (P b 0.05) (Fig. 3). Lpl mRNA level of
fish fed with duckweed was significantly (P b 0.05) lower than those
fed with chironomid larvae at 30 days (Fig. 3).