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Plasma cortisol response of seawater‐adapted mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) during deep MS‐222 anesthesia
Author(s) -
Spotte Stephen,
Bubucis Patricia M.,
Anderson Gary
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1430100110
Subject(s) - fundulus , biology , anesthetic , fish <actinopterygii> , fight or flight response , seawater , plasma concentration , endocrinology , medicine , zoology , fishery , anesthesia , ecology , biochemistry , gene
Anesthetics are used to reduce stress in fishes during handling and transfer. However, deep anesthesia of seawater‐adapted mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) results in a time‐related increase in plasma cortisol, indicating a primary (neuroendocrine) stress response. Groups of seven fish were bled within 1 to 12 min of exposure to the anesthetic MS‐222. Plasma cortisol rose more rapidly in fish removed from the MS‐222 solution immediately after 1 min and held between wet paper towels than in fish that remained immersed. The difference between methods was significant ( P < 0.001) with variation restricted to the later sampling periods. Differences were not significant in fish sampled immediately after 1 min ( P > 0.05).