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Notes: Abstract Cultured juvenile white suckers, Catostomus commersoni, are commonly held over winter without the provision of exogenous feed. This study examined the ability of suckers to recover from prolonged fasting, and the energy partitioning strategies employed during the re-feeding phase. In one trial, white suckers held, without exogenous feed, in commercial lake cages for a prolonged period were fed a semi-moist salmonid diet. Although the fish consumed the feed, they exhibited negligible growth over the 12 weeks of the trial, and there was no evidence of increases in tissue lipid, glycogen or protein. In the second trial, previously well-fed juvenile white suckers were starved for 20 weeks and then re-fed. Condition factor (K), but not body weight was increased during the 8 week trial. However, hepatosomatic index (HSI), hepatic and somatic glycogen, and somatic lipid and protein reserves (expressed as a percentage of tissue) were significantly increased during the re-feeding period. Further, changes in plasma thyroid hormone levels indicated an important role of these hormones in the energy partitioning events. The poor growth of juvenile white suckers in intensive culture may be caused by deleterious changes in feed conversion ability resulting from extended fasting of the fish prior to ‘grow-out’.

Notes: Abstract Changes in plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in juvenile white suckers, Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede), as a measure of their response to transportation (8 h) and chase challenge stressors. The study attempted to evaluate the ability of this species to withstand standard aquacultural husbandry practices. Plasma cortisol concentrations were elevated during and following transportation. Recovery from transportation (as plasma cortisol levels reached baseline values) was prolonged in fish transported under winter conditions compared with fish transported during the summer months. The plasma cortisol response to a 5 min chase challenge in well-fed juvenile white suckers was typically of 2 to 3 h periodicity with the peak values between 15 and 30 min. This pattern was similar in fish fed three commercial diets (although rates of recovery differed), and was unaffected by fasting. The return of plasma cortisol concentrations to baseline values following the chase-challenge stressor was prolonged in fasted groups. The results of this study showed that juvenile white suckers require several days to recover from transportation and under the acclimation conditions applied, the recovery was faster in the fish transported during the summer.

Notes: Synopsis The relationship between standing in a dominance hierarchy and physiological stress was studied in rainbow trout. Individual fish were assigned relative dominance ranks, based on behavioral observations in a large, simulated stream tank. These ranks were compared to histometric measures of interrenal cell activity. Fish, isolated individually in the stream tank had significantly lower levels of interrenal activity than fish from the crowded holding tank. Groups of fish in the stream tank formed stable, linear dominance hierarchies. Interrenal activity correlated inversely with dominance rank, with the exception that top ranking fish had higher activity than expected. Possible cause and effect relationships are discussed.

Notes: Synopsis In a 3 × 2 factorial experiment examining the effects of combinations of ambient temperature (18°, 15°, 9° C) and dietary protein content (35% and 45%) on thyroid activity inSalmo gairdneri, although there was an apparent increase in activity of the thyroid in cold-adapted trout, assessed by histological appearance of the gland, there were no significant changes in serum thyroid hormone titers. In a second experiment examining the effects of combinations of ambient temperature (15°, 12.5°, 10°C) with dietary lipid content (6% and 16%) there was a similar apparent increase in thyroid activity in cold-adapted fish which was accompanied, in fish fed the higher lipid diet, with an increase in serum thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels. Trout fed an ascorbic acid-free diet (experiment 3) had lower serum T3 levels than in those given an ascorbic acid supplemented diet (1280 mg·kg-1). In experiments 2 and 3 serum thyroid hormone concentrations were approximately inversely proportional to ambient temperature and concomitant weight gain, but no such correlation was evident in experiment 1 suggesting that the changes in hormone levels in experiments 2 and 3 were not ipso facto related to differences in either ambient temperature or weight gain but rather to the specific metabolic changes imposed by the dietary lipids or ascorbic acid deficiency.

Notes: Synopsis Recent studies of thyroid hormone function are reviewed as they relate to the environmental physiology of teleost fish. In addition, reports dealing with the apparent interdependence of thyroid gland function with that of other endocrine glands are discussed with emphasis on the interrelated endocrine response associated with changing physiological status of teleosts. Seasonal changes in thyroid gland activity are described in several species. Although seasonal alterations in apparent thyroid status are concomitant with changes in ambient temperature, photoperiod and/or gonadal status, their biological significance is not fully understood and direct relationships are for the most part, not proven. Similarly, most reports of thyroid involvement in gonadal development or maturation are based on indirect evidence of the relationship. The exception to this is a study in immature or hypophysectomized goldfish in which thyroxine (T4) was shown to promote ovarian development and maturation, possibly acting collateralistically or synergistically with gonadotropin. Even in this study it is not clear whether the T4 effect is a direct action on the ovarian tissue or an indirect action via the regulation of metabolites necessary for gonad metabolism. Integumentary silvering and retinal porphyropsin formation in salmonids are stimulated by administration of T4 or thyroid extracts. Administration of T4 or triiodothyronine (T3) enhances skeletal and somatic growth in some teleostean species, although the effect on somatic growth is most pronounced when these hormones act synergistically with somatotropin (STH) or androgens. The growth-promoting effects of T4 and T3 may be linked to their apparent involvement in lipid, carbohydrate, protein and vitamin metabolism. alterations in apparent thyroid activity concomitant with changes in ambient temperature have been reported (for example correlated with seasonal ambient thermal changes), although there are marked contradictions in data presented by different investigators. Reported temperature-related effects on thyroid function are probably secondary responses of thyroid metabolism to altered temperatures. Evidence of a direct rate of thyroid hormones in the regulation of migration (and associated behavioural modifications), salmonid smoltification, oxygen consumption, and osmotic or ionic regulation although highly suggestive in a number of areas is inconclusive and requires further critical experimental evaluation. The pituitary control (by thyrotropin) of thyroid secretion of T4 is convincingly shown in several teleosts, and evidence of an inhibitory hypothalamic control of thyrotrop activity is highly suggestive in some species. A thyrotropic effect of somatotropin preparations is well established in several teleostean species; the effect does not appear to be related to contamination of the somatotropin preparations with thyrotropin, and may be an important consideration in explaining the apparently related involvement of T4 (or T3) and somatotropin in growth and metabolism. The apparent thyrotropic property of some gonadotropin preparations, shown in several teleostean species, requires further investigation before the doubts regarding hormone preparation purity can be satisfied. Recent studies of effects of prolactin on thyroid function are highly suggestive of an inhibitory role of prolactin in peripheral monodeiodination of T4 to T3 which secondarily affects thyroid activity in some species. There is no evidence of a direct involvement of corticotropin, melanotropin or fractions of these molecules on thyroid function in teleosts. Moreover, the little evidence in support of a role of gonadal or adrenocortical steroids in thyroid control is either often contradictory or indirect and needs to be evaluated further. Interlake epizootiological studies of thyroid dysfunction in Great Lakes salmonids provide substantive evidence for the presence of a ubiquitous waterborne goitrogen(s) in the Great Lakes environs. The nature of the goitrogen(s), whether naturally-occurring or a man-introduced toxicant, remains to be determined but the possible existence of waterborne goitrogens in ‘natural’ water systems and their possible effects on experimental studies of teleostean thyroid function have to be evaluated further. If goitrogens are a common component of aquatic environments their presence could explain some of the data discrepancy among different groups of investigators, and could account for some of the apparent seasonal change in teleost thyroid physiology.

Notes: Synopsis Small numbers of ‘mitochondria-rich’ (‘chloride’) cells were found in the yolksac epithelium of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) embryos just before hatching and in eleuthero-embryos up to 14 days after hatching. This suggests that the yolksac epithelium may play a limited ionoregulatory role in this species. ‘Mitochondria-rich’ cells were also present in small numbers in the branchial epithelium of embryos just before hatching and in increasing numbers in eleutheroembryos during the first two weeks after hatching. The cells in the branchial epithelium showed marked variations in appearance, particularly in the fine structure of the tubular (smooth) endoplasmic reticulum. Few of the mitochondria-rich cells examined here had the pitted apex which is characteristic of homologous cells in other species. There appeared to be no differences in the numbers or appearance of ‘mitochondria-rich’ cells in embryos and eleutheroembryos reared in different ambient salinities (distilled water, 110/00 and 130/00 sea water), possibly indicating that the genesis of the ionoregulatory function of the gills has not occurred at that interval of development.

Notes: Synopsis The prolactin inhibiting substances L-DOPA, Lergotrile and Bromocripton appeared to reduce the secretory activity of the prolactin cells in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) yearlings acclimated to distilled water and effected significant reductions in plasma osmotic pressure and plasma Na+ and/or Cl− concentrations. This suggests that in coho salmon prolactin is involved in osmotic or ionic homeostasis in hyposmotic environments in a manner similar to that in other teleosts.

Notes: Synopsis Although several studies have described effects of meal frequency and timing of meals on growth performance and body composition of different species of fishes, the mechanisms by which such variables influence the energy partitioning processes is not known. They may interact with the natural feeding rhythm of the fish, or with various behavioural and physiological parameters that exhibit ‘circadian-like’ patterns; however, in most cases, the endogenous character of such rhythms is not clear. The time of feeding, perse, can act as a Zeitgeber and override the effect of the light/dark alternation. Fish that are fed always at the same time of day show typical pre-feeding activity. Blood levels of some nutrients and hormones also show peaks or troughs at the time of feeding, but whether these are pre-feeding or post-prandial events is not clear. These results from fish are compared with similar studies with mammals. The existence and location of an endogenous multi-oscillator system is also discussed.