Effects of varying rearing temperatures on expression of different trypsin isozymes, feed conversion efficiency and growth in Atlantic salmon (shape Salmo salar L.)

Abstract

Hatching and start-feeding temperatures affected the expression of different trypsin isozymes in the pyloric caeca of Atlantic salmon. Hatching temperature of 10 °C induced the expression of the common isozyme TRP-2*100, and of 6 °C induced the variant TRP-2*92 (p$<$0.01). In contrast, start-feeding temperature of 12 °C significantly (p$<$0.0001) influenced the expression of the variant TRP-2*92, compared to 6 °C. The frequencies between different trypsin isozyme patterns were not changed at later stages under varied rearing temperatures.

The frequency distribution between Atlantic salmon without and with trypsin variants was about 0.4:0.6. The trypsin isozyme TRP-2*92 was the major variant in Norwegian salmon, while the trypsin variant TRP-1*91 was dominant in Scottish salmon, at frequencies of 0.47 and 0.42, respectively. The presence of both the common and either variant trypsin isozymes were important for feed utilization and growth at varying rearing temperatures. Trypsin isozymes are functionally sensitive to different temperatures. The expression of the common trypsin isozyme TRP-2*100 is important when the water temperature is $>$ 8 °C, while it is important for the expression of the variant TRP-2*92 when the water temperature is $\leq$ 8 °C, especially below 6 °C. The variant TRP-1*91 was observed to perform effectively at a wider temperature range than the variant TRP-2*92, but not at temperature $\leq$ 6 °C.

Genetic variation in trypsin isozyme pattern is a primary factor affecting food conversion efficiency and growth under different rearing temperatures.