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Physiological changes of sturgeon Acipenser naccarii caused by increasing environmental salinity
1 Dept Biología Animal y Ecología, Univ. de Granada, 18071
Granada, Spain
2 Dept I+D, Piscifactoría `Sierra Nevada', 18313 Riofría,
Granada, Spain
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: anasanz{at}ugr.es)
Accepted 21 August 2002
The possible repercussions of osmoregulatory processes on some indicators
of classical and oxidative stress were examined during gradual acclimation of
sturgeons (Acipenser naccarii) to full seawater (35% salinity) and
after a period of 20
days at this salinity. Erythrocyte constants and
levels of cortisol, protein and glucose in the plasma were determined. In
addition, plasma osmolality and muscle-hydration values, as well as liver and
heart protein, were determined. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and
superoxide dismutase activities and lipidperoxidation levels were measured in
blood (plasma and red blood cells) and tissue (liver and heart). A number of
physiological responses, such as disturbance in body fluid, activation of
osmoregulatory mechanisms, augmented antioxidant defences in blood and
alteration of energy metabolites, were detected with increasing environmental
salinity. After 20 days at 35% salinity, plasma osmolality, erythrocyte
constants and muscle water content all returned to values usual for low
environmental salinity, indicating that osmoregulatory processes have achieved
their objective. However, cortisol values, antioxidant enzyme activities in
the blood (plasma and red blood cells), lipid peroxidation in plasma, and
hepatic proteins did not return to initial values, showing that osmoregulatory
processes cause major physiological changes in the fish.
Key words: Acipenser naccarii, osmoregulation, water salinity, oxidative stress, physiology
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