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Stress response in the Antarctic teleosts ( Notothenia neglecta Nybelin and N. rossii Richardson)
Author(s) -
Egginton S.,
Taylor E. W.,
Wilson R. W,
Johnston I. A.,
Moon T. W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1991.tb03108.x
Subject(s) - biology , respiratory system , zoology , dorsum , anatomy
Blood chemistry and haematological parameters have been determined in the Antarctic teleosts, Notothenia neglecta Nybelin and Notothenia rossii Richardson at 2° C. Samples were taken using chronically implanted dorsal aortic cannulae following a minimum of 24–36 h recovery. Broadly similar results were obtained for the two species. In N. neglecta , routinely active specimens had high values of arterial pH (7.81) and PO 2 (9.26 kPa), and modest haemoglobin levels (5.6 g dl −1 ) relative to temperate species. Following 3 min strenuous activity there was a decrease in arterial pH (7.63) and a small rise in lactate from 0.41 to 0.68 mm, but no significant change in the calculated net metabolic acid load (δH m +). PaO 2 and PaCO 2 varied inversely during exercise, and oxygen content declined by 22%. pHa and most other haematological parameters returned to routine values between 1–3 h post‐exercise. The results suggest that the major effect of strenuous activity in Notothenia spp. is a respiratory, rather than a metabolic acidosis.