title: Slaughter of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the presence of carbon monoxide.
abstract: The different stunning methods for Atlantic salmon can still be improved with regard to animal welfare. Salmon exposed to carbon monoxide expressed no aversive reactions towards CO as such. CO exposed fish showed an earlier onset of rigour mortis and a faster decrease in muscle pH due to depletion of oxygen during the treatment. Exposure to CO did increase the level of cortisol compared to undisturbed control fish, but the increase was less than in the water only control group. Neuroglobin, a CO binding globin, was found in salmon brain and Saccus vasculosus, a richly vascularized sac connected to the fish brain. Binding of CO to neuroglobin during sedation might possibly improve animal welfare.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, 5817 Bergen, Norway. gry.aletta.bjorlykke@imr.no
authors.forename: Gry Aletta
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bjørlykke
authors.forename: Bjørn Olav
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Kvamme
authors.forename: Arnt J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Raae
authors.forename: Bjorn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Slinde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D005914:Globins / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D012298:Rigor Mortis; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D005914:Globins; D006854:Hydrocortisone