Table 2 Protein and nucleic acid (total DNA and RNA) contents and RNA/DNA ratios in the liver tissues of the initial, fed, and starved groups of rock bream, Paralichthys olivaceus*

Protein (mg/g) DNA (mg/g) RNA (mg/g) RNA-DNA ratio
Initial 3.9 ± 7.92a 0.3 ± 0.12a 1.8 ± 0.33a 6.23
Fed 38.1 ± 1.22a 0.2 ± 0.07b 1.8 ± 0.25b 9.56
Starved 45.3 ± 1.28b 0.5 ± 0.06c 1.5 ± 0.02a 3.48
* Data are means ± SD (n = 10 for each group). In each column, means with different lower-case superscript letters are significantly different (Duncan’s multiple range test, P < 0.05).