Stress response and energy metabolism in various tissues of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus exposed to hypoxic conditions

抄録

Nile tilapia were exposed to severe hypoxic conditions. The respiratory frequency (RF) of the fish reached a maximum level at approximately 10 mmHg PO₂ and decreased gradually thereafter. The fish sank to the bottom and subsequently their respiration began to stop. The hypoxic conditions increased the hematocrit value. As RF decreased, plasma cortisol and glucose levels climbed drastically. Just before respiratory arrest, the ATP and the total adenylate (TA) concentrations were significantly depressed in the liver, kidney and ordinary muscle but not in the heart or gill. As RF decreased, ATP and TA in both the liver and kidney decreased rapidly. Cytochrome oxidase activity increased significantly in the brain, heart, gill and ordinary muscle until respiratory frequency peaked. However, from the peak RF, this activity decreased in the liver and kidney. Lactic acid levels in both ordinary muscle and liver increased markedly when the fish sank. These results indicate that the stress response to hypoxic conditions is induced markedly with the decreased RF. It is also suggested that the decreased energy status in the liver and kidney of tilapia occurs at the same stage as the metabolic depression in the whole body, without increases in the aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms.