Effects of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae meal inclusion in rainbow trout feed: myogenesis-related gene expression and histomorphological features

The effects of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM) dietary inclusion in rainbow trout diet were evaluated on muscular growth using gene expression and histomorphological features liver, spleen, kidney, anterior posterior gut through histopathological analyses. Two hundred fifty-two grow-out fed four experimental diets containing increasing levels TM: 0% (TM0), 5% (TM25), 10% (TM50), 20% (TM100) corresponding to different fish replacement (0, 25, 50, 100%, respectively). Muscular was analysing the various genes involved steps myogenesis. Among analysed genes, only MyoD resulted significantly higher TM100 compared TM0. histomorphology not affected by TM villus height differs from segments regardless diet. Histopathological alterations observed all sampled organs for treatments; however, did influence either development or severity changes. results obtained confirmed safe utilisation as an alternative protein source highlighted necessity deepen studies effect myogenesis process, especially at a molecular level.HighlightsRainbow can effectively be with source.Total FM substitution decreased expression.Increasing histomorphology.