Regulation of endocrine and paracrine sources of Igfs and Gh receptor during compensatory growth in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops×Morone saxatilis)

Compensatory growth (CG) is a period of growth acceleration that exceeds normal rates after animals are alleviated of certain growth-stuntingconditions.Inhybridstripedbass(HSB,Morone chrysops!Morone saxatilis), 3 weeks of complete feed restriction results in a catabolic state that, when relieved, renders a subsequent phase of CG. The catabolic state was characterized by depressed levels of hepatic Type I and II GH receptor (ghr1, ghr2 )a ndigf1 mRNA, along with considerable decreases in plasma Igf1. The state of catabolism also resulted in significant declines in hepatic igf2 mRNA and in circulating 40 kDa Igfbinding protein (Igfbp). Skeletal muscle expression of ghr2 mRNA was significantly increased. Upon realimentation, specific growth rates (SGRs) were significantly higher than sized-matchedcontrols,indicatingaperiodofCG.Hepaticghr1, ghr2, igf1 and igf2 mRNA levels along with plasma Igf1 and 40 kDa Igfbp increased rapidly during realimentation. Plasma Igf1andtotalhepaticigf2mRNAweresignificantlycorrelatedto SGR throughout the study. Skeletal muscle igf1 mRNA also increased tenfold duringCG. Thesedatasuggestthat endocrine and paracrine/autocrine components of the GH‐Igf axis, namely igf1, igf2 ,a ndghr1 and ghr2 ,m ay be involved in CG responses in HSB, with several of the gene expression variables exceeding normal levels during CG. We also demonstrate that normalization of hepatic mRNA as a function of total liver production, rather than as a fraction of total RNA, may be a more biologically appropriate method of quantifying hepatic gene expression when using real-time PCR.