Effect of salinity on the rearing performance of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus 1758)

Effect of rearing salinity on the performance of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus 1758) was studied under a laboratory condition. Fish growth, survival, RNA/DNA ratio, pepsin activity, α‐amylase activity and FCR were used as evaluation criteria. The growth and RNA/DNA ratio were significantly affected by the rearing salinity. High growth rate and RNA/DNA ratio were observed when fish were reared at the salinity of 34‰. The pepsin activity of fish was not significantly affected by the rearing salinity. However, the α‐amylase activity of fish was significantly affected by the rearing salinity. The α‐amylase activity of fish reared at the salinity of 10‰ was significantly lower than fish cultured at the salinity of 34‰. Rearing salinity can significantly affect the FCR of juvenile golden pompano. The FCR of fish cultured at the salinity of 10‰ was 5‐times higher than the FCR of fish reared at 34‰. Results from the present study indicate that juvenile golden pompano can be reared above 26‰ without affecting fish performance, and the salinity of 10‰ may be too low to rear juvenile golden pompano as fish growth, RNA/DNA ratio and α‐amylase activity were reduced.     

A diet of fructose‐enriched Artemia improves the response of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp to acute low‐salinity challenge

The Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), as an economically important species, has been reared in low‐salinity water during the last decade. To investigate how juvenile L. vannamei shrimp fed with fructose‐enriched Artemia respond to acute low‐salinity stress, the shrimp were randomly divided into four treatment groups, three groups were fed with Artemia enriched with either 100, 200 and 300 mg L^?1 of fructose and a control group fed with Artemia with no enrichment for 10 days. The results showed that the 300 mg L^?1 fructose group demonstrated the maximum survival rate and glycogen content. Additionally, the 300 mg L^?1 fructose group showed significantly higher Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and expression levels of Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase α‐subunit, V‐H ATPase α‐subunit, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPX) and Hsp70 mRNA when compared with the control group. Furthermore, after exposure to low salinity, the mRNA levels of phosphofructokinase, V‐H ATPase α‐subunit, GPX, p38, JNK and Rac1 stayed constant in shrimp fed with fructose‐enriched Artemia but changed significantly in the control group. Thus, a diet of fructose‐enriched Artemia can improve the osmoregulation and survival of juvenile L. vannamei shrimp exposed to low salinities.     

Cobia Rachycentron canadum L. reared in low‐salinity water: does dietary sodium chloride affect growth and osmoregulation?

The effects of NaCl supplementation (0.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% dry weight of a basal diet) on growth, gill histological alterations and osmoregulation of juvenile cobia reared in low‐salinity water (5 g L^?1) were assessed. At the end of the experiment, gills were sampled for Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase activity determination and histological evaluation. In all treatments, no mortality was observed. Results showed that dietary NaCl supplementation did not alter growth. At the highest supplementations (7.5% and 10.0%), juvenile cobia showed higher feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase activity was higher in fish fed the diet without salt supplementation than in those fed with NaCl‐supplemented diets. The number of chloride cells significantly increased with increasing dietary salt level, being 2.5‐fold higher in fish fed with 10.0% NaCl supplementation (41 cells mm^?2) than in those from the non‐supplemented fed group (16 cells mm^?2). These findings indicate that dietary salt supplementation stimulated chloride cell proliferation paralleled with a reduction in the gill Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase activity, suggesting a possible decrease in energy consumption associated with osmoregulation. However, the suggested energy sparing did not have a significant impact on juvenile cobia growth.     

Effect of low salinity on the expression profile of Na+/K+‐ATPase and the growth of juvenile chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus Houttuyn)

Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus Houttuyn) is one of the most commercially important scombroid fish used as a food resource. Recently, there has been a demand for efficient rearing methods of this fish for a full‐life cycle aquaculture. In the present study, we evaluated the physiological responses in the juvenile S. japonicus to different ambient salinities. A significantly higher gain of the body mass was observed in the juveniles reared in 24 g/L and 13 g/L seawater than in those reared in natural seawater (34 g/L) within 40 days of the experimental period without affecting mortality. A principal enzyme for osmoregulation, Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase, was expressed in the ionocytes located in the gill filaments of the juveniles. The number and the cell size of ionocytes and the enzymatic activity of Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase in the gills decreased within 10 days after the low‐salinity challenge, which implies the reduction of the energy‐consuming active ion secretion under the low‐salinity environment. The physiological capacity for adaptation to low‐salinity seawater in chub mackerel could be basic knowledge to carry out culturing of these fish in coastal sea pens where ambient salinity fluctuates. The improvement of the growth performance by rearing in low‐salinity seawater will contribute to the efficient production of the seed juveniles for aquaculture.     

Osmotic adaptation of Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum

Coho salmon yearlings, reared in France in a freshwater hatchery, were directly transferred to sea water at three different periods of the year: 14 January, 3 March and 14 April 1976. The last two experiments were realized at three different salinities: 25, 30 and 35‰.The results show important seasonal differences in the osmoregulatory responses. The direct transfer to 35‰ reveals some osmoregulatory problems which are not discernable at lower salinities. Yearlings transferred to a 35‰ sea water present a much higher and faster rise of plasma electrolytes and of branchial Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity than fish transferred to a 25 or 30‰ sea water.It was found that a physiologically pre-adapted fish, characterized by a high level of branchial Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity in fresh water (April) will present in sea water a slower and more regular increase in gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity than fish with a low level of enzyme activity in fresh water (January–March). These smolts transferred to 25 and 30‰ sea water in April do not exhibit important variations, whereas a well-marked osmotic disequilibrium appears at 35‰. However, this osmotic stress is much more rapidly controlled than in the previous transfers.Our results suggest that the highest tolerance to sea water is reached only at time of smolting and that the time of transfer may have a direct influence on the intensity of the osmotic stress. These facts might be of considerable importance for the development of marine rearing of coho salmon in coastal areas where the salinities stay usually above 30‰ which constitutes an unusual environment for the species under consideration.     

盐度对条石鲷幼鱼Na+/K+-ATP酶活力的影响

研究了盐度变化对条石鲷幼鱼鳃、肾脏和肝脏中Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力的影响。经不同盐度(8、18、28、38、48)的处理,条石鲷幼鱼3种组织Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力均受到不同程度的影响。经低盐度(8和18)处理的幼鱼鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力在前6 h略微增加,然后逐渐降低,在处理24 h时下降到最低,之后又开始增加。经高盐度(38和48)处理时,鳃中Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力在前6 h有所降低,然后迅速升高,并在处理24 h时达到最大,之后酶活力逐渐降低,并在处理96 h后与对照组无显著性差异(P>0.05)。所有盐度处理组幼鱼肾脏Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力在处理开始6 h均稍有增加,而从处理6 h开始降低,在处理24 h下降到最低,此后酶活力又呈现增加的趋势。在盐度为8的处理组中,肝脏Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力与肾脏中变化趋势相似,而其它3组则逐渐降低,在处理24 h时达到最低,之后又逐渐增加。结果表明,条石鲷幼鱼适盐范围广,具有较强的渗透压调节能力。3种组织的Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力酶活性在盐度为18～38的范围内变化不明显,而在8和48的盐度下变化较大,最终酶活力均高于对照组。与肾脏相比,盐度变化对鳃和肝脏Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活力的影响较大。     

Osmotic adaptation of Oncorhynchus kisutch walbaum. I. Seasonal variations of gill Na+K+ ATPase activity in coho salmon,O+-age and yearling,reared in fresh water

An eventual improvement in salmonid production in sea water will depend on a fundamental understanding of the natural osmotic behaviour, which demands, in turn, the seaward migration of young salmonids and the development of osmoregulatory processes. Seasonal changes in the gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, were studied between February 1976 and August 1977, on two successive broods, O⁺-age and yearling, of the same origin and reared under natural conditions in a freshwater hatchery off the Brittany coast (France).The gill ATPase changes are of a rhythmical nature. The data show that a seasonal activation of the branchial Na⁺K⁺ ATPase affects one part of the population only. Both age groups, O⁺-age and yearlings, present two peaks of Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity during the year, in the spring and in the fall, separated by a low activity period in summer and in winter. The peaks of ATPase activity in the fall (both groups) and spring (yearlings) correspond, roughly, with the equinox, whereas the spring rise of O⁺-age fish starts later on.The levels of gill ATPase activity are, probably, a function of the fish size for a given season, and the duration of Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activation may be affected by high temperatures of the late spring and thus may fluctuate from year to year. Yearly variations in branchial Mg²⁺ ATPase were evidenced in both groups; for the moment, these variations are impossible to correlate with the smolting process.Spring and autumn rises in the gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase of coho salmon, in fresh water, indicate changes in the osmoregulatory physiology, that are preparatory to seaward migration.As a consequence, assays of gill ATPase activity can give aquaculturists some precise indications of the migratory tendencies in young fresh water salmon and thus the euryhalinity possibilities of the species at a given time.     

Interactive effects of salinity on oxygen consumption,ammonium excretion,osmoregulation and Na+/K+‐ATPase expression in the bullseye puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus,Jenyns 1842)

A physiological study was performed to explore the effects in Sphoeroides annulatus (Jenyns 1842) juveniles of exposure to different salinities 10, 17, 23, 29, 35 and 41‰ on oxygen consumption rate (OCR), ammonium excretion rate (AER), the oxygen‐nitrogen atomic ratio (O:N), osmoregulation and Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase expression. The OCR values ranged from 27.9 to 30.9 mg O₂ h^?1 kg^?1, displaying a Type 1 response pattern Kinne (1977). AER ranged from 0.60 to 0.69 mg h^?1 kg^?1, and O:N values were from 53.12 to 59.26, indicating that the puffers use proteins and lipids as an energy‐substrate. Osmoregulation in S. annulatus was hyposmotic in salinities of 23, 29, 35 and 41‰ and hyperosmotic in a salinity of 10‰. The isosmotic point of the bullseye puffer was 356 mmol kg^?1 (10.5‰). The enzyme expression analysis indicates that the fish acclimated to 41‰ had the highest Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase expression level, whereas, the lowest expression level was found close to the isosmotic point. Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase expression in the gills was found to have a U‐shaped relationship with environmental salinity. We conclude that the bullseye puffer is strongly euryhaline and can be cultivated in a wide range of environments that has important economic implications.     

Effects of salinity on the ions important and sodium‐potassium ATPase in osmoregulation,cortisol, amino acids,digestive and immune enzymes in Scylla paramamosain during indoor overwintering

Overwintering is an important part of the conservation of Scylla paramamosain, and salinity has an important effect on the conservation of S. paramamosain during overwintering. Three salinities (4‰, 12‰ and 25‰) were selected as the overwintering salinities to reveal the effects of different salinities on the relevant important ions in osmotic pressure regulation, plasma cortisol, digestive enzymes, immune enzymes and amino acids of S. paramamosain during indoor overwintering. Results indicated that after overwintering, Cl^‐, Na⁺ and the osmotic pressure of serum have the highest salinity at 25‰, and the lowest salinity at 4‰. Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity and cortisol were found to increase with decreasing salinity. The activity of digestive and immune enzymes was highest at 25‰, and was the lowest at 4‰. The amount of total amino acids (TAA), umami amino acids (UAA) and essential amino acids (EAA) in 25‰ were significantly higher than in 4‰ and 12‰. After overwintering, the essential amino acid index (EAAI) in the salinity range of 12–25‰ was 54.04–59.00, compared to 48.56–54.04 in the salinity range of 4–12‰. As a result, S. paramamosain at 25‰ had higher digestion and immunity than at 4‰ and 12‰, due to requiring more energy for osmotic pressure adjustment. In addition, S. paramamosain at 25‰ had the best meat quality. The results of this study are helpful for aquaculture production for indoor overwintering of S. paramamosain.     

Juvenile Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) affect the skin and gills of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and the host response to a handling procedure

Infectious Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) cause localized inflammation at the site of attachment on the host fish, while the greatest physiological impact occurs with the development of the subadult and adult stages. We exposed Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) to infectious copepods at 30, 25 and 14 days prior to a net confinement procedure, while a second group were sham infected. Fish were sampled at time zero, 2, 4, and 6 h of continuous net confinement, and at 24 h after 2 h confinement. Plasma Na⁺, Cl^–, gill Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity and skin mucous cell numbers were measured, and skin and gill condition assessed microscopically. Exposure to copepods resulted in lower numbers of acidophilic mucous cells and poor condition of the skin and gill epithelia. Total numbers of mucous cells were decreased in net confined infected fish only. Plasma Na⁺ was elevated in all samples from non‐infected netted fish, without altered gill Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity, while infected fish had higher plasma Na⁺ only at 2 h and increased gill ATPase activity at 4 h. The epithelia of infected fish were more severely affected by the confinement procedure. Exposure to juvenile lice can induce effects that become apparent only when a stressor is applied.     

盐度对四指马鲅(Eleutheronema tetradactylum)幼鱼生长及其鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的影响

采用盐度渐变的方法,研究了盐度2、10、18、26、34共5个梯度对四指马鲅幼鱼(7.82± 0.43 g)生长及其鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的影响.结果表明,盐度对四指马鲅幼鱼的生长和存活均有不同程度的影响.在实验盐度范围内,随着盐度的升高,四指马鲅幼鱼的最终体重、特定增长率(SGR)、日增重(DWG)、增重率(GBW)和增长率(GBL)均出现逐渐降低的趋势,且部分盐度组间差异显著(P＜0.05),其中上述各项指标中,盐度2组均最高,与盐度10组差异不显著(P＞0.05),而与盐度18、26、34组存在显著性差异(P＜0.05),盐度34组显著低于其他盐度组(P＜0.05);幼鱼的饲料系数随盐度升高逐渐增大,且部分盐度组间差异显著(P＜0.05).在成活率方面,除盐度34组的成活率为72.2%,显著低于其他盐度组外(P＜0.05),其他各盐度组成活率均达到90%以上.盐度对四指马鲅幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶也存在一定影响,经过3 d的盐度驯化后,实验第0天部分盐度组幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的活力有显著差异,其中盐度 34 组显著高于其他组(P＜0.05),盐度 18、26 组显著低于其他组(P＜0.05).实验开始后到第10天,盐度2、10、34组幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的活力有所降低,此后,各盐度组幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的活力趋于稳定.经过30d的养殖发现,盐度34组幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的活力最高,显著高于其他组(P＜0.05),而盐度2、10组幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶的活力略低于盐度18、26组,但差异并不显著(P＞0.05).从以上结果可见,盐度对四指马鲅幼鱼的生长和鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活力有一定影响.     

Influence of salinity on the energetics of gill and kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The effect of seawater acclimation and adaptation to various salinities on the energetics of gill and kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was examined. Smolts and non-smolts previously reared in fresh water were exposed to a rapid increase in salinity to 30 ppt. Plasma osmolarity, [Na⁺], [Cl^–], [K⁺] and [Mg⁺⁺] increased in both groups but were significantly lower in smolts than non-smolts. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase specific activity, initially higher in smolts, increased in both groups after 18 days in seawater. Kidney Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase specific activity was not affected by salinity in either group. Gill and kidney citrate synthase specific activity was not affected by seawater exposure in smolts but decreased in non-smolts. In a second experiment, Atlantic salmon smolts reared in fresh water were acclimated to 0, 10 or 30 ppt seawater for 3 months at a temperature of 13–14°C. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was positively correlated with salinity, displaying 2.5- and 5-fold higher specific activity at 10 and 30 ppt, respectively, than at 0 ppt. Kidney Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase specific activity was not significantly affected by environmental salinity. Citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase specific activities in gill were slightly (6–13%) lower at 10 ppt than at 0 and 30 ppt, whereas kidney activities were lowest at 30 ppt. Oxygen consumption of isolated gill filaments was significantly higher when incubated in isosmotic saline and at 30 ppt than at 0 ppt, but was not affected by the prior acclimation salinity. The results indicate that although high salinity induces increased gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, it does not induce substantial increases in metabolic capacity of gill or kidney.     

Quantifying the dietary potassium requirement of subadult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

A growth trial lasting for 12 weeks was conducted in 21 net cages to determine the dietary potassium (K) requirement of subadult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) (Average weight: 331.3 g). Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi‐purified diets were compounded with different dietary K level. The specific growth rate (SGR) of fish was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by dietary K supplementation, SGR and the gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity increased first and then decreased (P < 0.05) as dietary K level increased. The highest SGR and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity values were both observed at 6.38 g kg^?1 group. Dietary K level showed significant (P < 0.05) effect on serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose (GLU), the maximum values of SOD and GLU were in 8.42 and 6.38 g kg^?1 group, respectively. The body lipid content of the 6.38 g kg^?1 group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control. However, the ash content in the 8.42 g kg^?1 group was significantly higher than those in the 1.21, 2.21, 4.41 and 6.38 g kg^?1 group. When dietary protein was 320 g kg^?1 and the waterborne potassium ranged from 6.86 to 9.10 mg L^?1, the dietary K requirement for subadult grass carp judged from SGR and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity is 5.38 and 7.41 g kg^?1 diet, respectively.     

Importance of river migration to the development of seawater tolerance in Columbia River anadromous salmonids

Gradually increasing levels of gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity were observed in juvenile chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and coho, Oncorhynchus kisutch, salmon and steelhead trout, Salmo gairdneri, undergoing parr-smolt transformation in artificial rearing facilities on the Columbia River. Portions of the same populations released to migrate seaward, however, generally showed much greater increases in enzyme activity with time and distance from the release point. After migrating 714 km to the Columbia River estuary, spring chinook salmon had a mean gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity 2.5 times greater than fish retained at the hatchery and 1.9 times greater than fish adapted to 28 ppt seawater for 208 days. Similar observations were made on coho salmon.     

Studies on the effect of air exposure on gill Na+/K+-ATPase of the marble goby,Oxyeleotris marmorata,a facultative air-breathing fish

Gill and liver microsomal Na⁺/K⁺-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities, body weight, and several blood parameters were measured in marble gobies held in freshwater, in air on wet filter paper for 7 days and three days after return to freshwater following 7 days in air. During the 7 days in air, body weight, and blood Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations remained unchanged. During the same period, however, mean specific activity of the gill ATPase fell 79% while liver ATPase specific activity was unchanged. When these fish were returned to water the specific activity of the gill ATPase returned to values seen in freshwater gobies within 3 days. Several changes were also noted in the characteristics of the ATPase in the fish held in air.     

Effects of Salinity on Biogenic Amines,Hemolymph Osmotic Pressure,and Activity of Gill’s Na+/K+‐ATPase in Charybdis japonica (Crustacea,Decapoda)

The effects of salinity on hemolymph osmotic pressure, gill Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity and dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5‐HT) in the gills, and hemolymph of the adult Charybdis japonica were studied. DA levels increased significantly (P < 0.05), while the NE and 5‐HT revealed contrary change in hemolymph and gills. The iso‐osmotic point of C. japonica (911.4 mOsm/kg) was at salinity of 27.87 ppt. The Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity of gill showed negative correlation with salinity in the hypotonic environment (<27.87 ppt). The results of this experiment indicated that C. japonica had great capability to acclimate to low salinity.     

盐度对珍珠龙胆石斑鱼幼鱼渗透调节与耗氧率的影响

为研究盐度对珍珠龙胆石斑鱼（）渗透调节与耗氧率的影响,设计实验一,将（162.5±12.1）g珍珠龙胆石斑鱼置于不同盐度（6、12、18、24、30）下养殖10 d,测定血清渗透压及Na⁺、Cl^-、K⁺离子浓度。实验结果表明,随盐度的升高血清渗透压及Na⁺、Cl^-、K⁺离子浓度也随着升高,各组[Na⁺]：[Cl^-]比值无显著差异（>0.05）;经回归分析得到血清等渗点渗透压为365.95 mOsm/kg,所对应盐度为12.75。实验二,将（26.4±2.7）g幼鱼置于不同盐度（6、12、18、24、30）下养殖30 d,测定在开始暴露后0 h、3 h、24 h、72 h鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase活性及表达和第30天耗氧率,结果表明鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase活性随盐度的增大呈“U”形变化;鳃Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1基因表达量波动较大,在72 h后随盐度增大先降低后增加,变化趋势与酶活性一致;第30天耗氧率随盐度的增加先降低后增加又降低。综上所述,珍珠龙胆石斑鱼幼鱼10 d内能够完全适应6~30盐度急性变化,耗氧率除了受离子渗透调节的影响,还可能与其生活史阶段有关。     

Dietary potassium requirement of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val.) based on growth and tissue potassium content

A growth trial was conducted to estimate the optimum concentration of dietary potassium (K) for grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Triplicate groups of grass carp (3.96 ± 0.06 g) were fed diets containing graded levels (0.87, 2.90, 5.37, 7.54, 9.87 and 12.4 g kg^?1) of K for 8 weeks. Final body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity were highest in fish fed with 9.87 g kg^?1 dietary K and lowest in fish fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). The K contents in whole body and muscle were linearly increased up to the 9.87 g kg^?1 dietary K and then levelled off beyond this level, whereas in scales and vertebrae up to the 7.54 g kg^?1 dietary K (P < 0.05). However, dietary K levels had no significant effect on ash, Ca, P and Mg contents in whole body, scales, vertebrae or muscle. Analysis using polynomial regression of weight gain and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity and using the broken‐line regression of whole body K concentrations indicated that the adequate dietary K concentration for grass carp is about 9.45–9.99 g kg^?1 diet.     

Effect of exposure to low salinity water on plasma ion regulation and survival rates in artificially wounded devil stinger <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inimicus japonicus</Emphasis>

We investigated the effect of exposure to low salinity water on plasma ion regulation and survival rates in artificially wounded devil stinger Inimicus japonicus. All fishes survived in 33% seawater (SW), while survival rate in 100% SW was 5.1% at 24 h. In 100% SW, plasma Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ concentrations significantly increased to 238?±?49.9, 9.6?±?2.4, 15.1?±?3.5 and 5.0?±?0.7 mmol/l at 6 h, respectively; the gill Na⁺/K⁺–ATPase (NKA) activity was almost stable, although only one fish survived to 24 h. In 33% SW, plasma Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations remained at the same level, and plasma Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations gradually increased to 16.2?±?0.7 and 4.5?±?0.2 mmol/l until 24 h, respectively. The NKA activity significantly increased to 5.1?±?1.1 µmol ADP/mg protein per h at 6 h. A positive correlation was observed between the wound surface area against body weight and the plasma ion concentrations, although no difference was observed in the restoration rate of the wounded area between 100 and 33% SW. These results indicate that exposure of wounded fish to low salinity water improves survivability by favoring plasma ion regulation without influencing the restoration rate.     

Response of ATPases in the osmoregulatory tissues of freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus exposed to copper in increased salinity

An increase in salinity of freshwater can affect the physiology and metal uptake in fish. In the present study, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were exposed to copper (1.0 mg/l) in increased salinities (2, 4, and 8 ppt) for 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 days. Following the exposures, the activities of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase, and Ca²⁺-ATPase were measured in the gill, kidney, and intestine to evaluate the changes in osmoregulation of fish. Results showed that increases in salinity and Cu exposure of fish significantly altered the ATPase activities depending on the tissue type, salinity increase, and exposure durations. Salinity-alone exposures increased Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity and decreased Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity decreased following Cu exposure in 2 and 4 ppt salinities, though the activity increased in 8 ppt salinity. Ca²⁺-ATPase activity decreased in the gill and intestine in all salinities, while the activity mostly increased in the kidney. However, there were great variations in Mg²⁺-ATPase activity following exposure to salinity alone and salinity+Cu combination. Cu accumulated in the gill and intestine following 14 days exposure and accumulation was negatively correlated with salinity increase. Data indicated that ATPases were highly sensitive to increases in salinity and Cu and might be a useful biomarker in ecotoxicological studies. However, data from salinity increased freshwaters should carefully be handled to see a clear picture on the effects of metals, as salinity affects both metal speciation and fish osmoregulation.