GROWTH AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN CLARIAS BATRACHUS DUE TO METHYL TESTOSTERONE

Methyl testosterone-supplemented diets were fed to Clarias batrachus for 63 days at doses 0.0 (Control), 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg|kg feed. Significantly higher growth and protein-efficiency ratio (PER) were observed in the fish fed with methyl testosterone (MT) up to a concentration of 5.0 mg|kg diet. At further increase in dose of MT there was, however, decrease in the trend of growth rate and PER. Conversion ratio in fish fed with MT at lower doses up to 2.5 mg|kg was better than at higher doses as well as at control. The two transaminases in liver showed increased activities at doses above 2.5 mg|kg, suggesting, probably, some degree of hepatocellular dysfunction, which may have been responsible for the poor growth performance at higher doses. The enhanced growth rate, better conversion and the PER noticed as a result of dietary administration of MT @ 1.0-2.5 mg|kg feed were substantiated by the effect of the hormone on the rate in in vivo incorporation of l-leucine-U-14C into liver protein