Serum cortisol, glucose and lipids in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) exposed to starvation and aquarium stress.
Plaice were maintained in the aquarium (11-12 degrees C) during May for 15 days without feeding. Within 48 hr, there was a decline in serum total lipids (P less than 0.001), phospholipids (P less than 0.01), triglycerides (P less than 0.001), cortisol (P less than 0.01) and glucose (P less than 0.001), but an increase in nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA; P less than 0.01). There was a significant inverse correlation between NEFA and glucose over 15 days (P less than 0.001) and between NEFA and cortisol over the first 5 days (P less than 0.01). Cortisol and glucose showed a significant correlation over 15 days (P less than 0.01). Serum cortisol and glucose were not apparently affected by starvation. Only cortisol provided a sensitive indicator of aquarium disturbance. Exposure of the fish to agitation or reduced O2 for 1 hr significantly elevated cortisol (P less than 0.001) but only the latter treatment elevated glucose (P less than 0.01); neither treatment affected the lipids.
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000097:blood*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D013217:Starvation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D006854:Hydrocortisone