Effect of Stress During Handling, Seawater Acclimation, Confinement, and Induced Spawning on Plasma Ion Levels and Somatolactin-Expressing Cells in Mature Female Liza ramada

The present experiments were designed to determine the effect of different stress factors; handling, seawater acclimation, confinement, and induced spawning on plasma cortisol, hydro mineral balance as well as changes in size, number and integrated intensity of somatolactin (SL)-expressing cells in Liza ramada mature females confined to fresh water ponds. The plasma levels of cortisol, PO43-, Na+, and K+ were higher, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ were lower than controls during transportation without anesthesia. By using clove oil (5 mg L-1) as an anesthetic during transportation, the plasma cortisol, PO43-, Na+, and K+ were similar to controls, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ were higher. During seawater acclimation, the plasma cortisol and minerals were significantly higher except Na+ which was lower than controls. In addition, during induction of spawning, the plasma levels of cortisol, PO43-, Na+, K+, and Mg2+ were significantly higher than controls. The SL-producing cells are located in the pars intermedia (PI) bordering the neurohypophysis. The stress affected the number, size, and immunostaining of SL-expressing cells. During seawater acclimation, the size and the integrated intensity of SL immunoreactivity were lower, but the number of these cells was higher than controls. Furthermore, the number, size, and the integrated intensity of SL immunoreactivity were significantly lower than controls during handling and after spawning, which was opposite to confinement. The response of SL-expressing cells in PI in parallel with changes in cortisol and hydro mineral balance induced by stress support the possible role of SL in the adaptive response of fish to stress. J. Exp. Zool. 00A:1-15, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.