title: Effects of acute and chronic stress on the levels of circulating growth hormone in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.
abstract: The acute stress of handling followed by confinement for a period of 1 or 24 hr caused a typical stress response in rainbow trout (elevation of plasma ACTH and cortisol) and a significant reduction in the concentration of circulating growth hormone. The chronic stress of low oxygen levels in both crowded and uncrowded tanks of fish caused a significant elevation of circulating GH levels, an effect which was abolished by the provision of additional aeration to the rearing tanks. This chronic elevation of GH levels was closely correlated with an elevation of plasma cortisol in the same fish. These findings are discussed in relation to stress-induced growth suppression and to the links between the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis and somatotrope activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Windermere Laboratory, Nr Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Pottinger
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sumpter
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Carragher
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Le Bail
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003441:Crowding; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012474:Salmon / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone