Histone-like protein: a novel method for measuring stress in fish

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

David W. Robinette¹  Edward J. Noga¹ 

关键词: Endobiotics;    Non-specific immunity;    Diagnostic stress test;    ELISA;   

DOI  :  10.3354/dao044097

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: We assessed the effect of chronic stress using a group of potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial polypeptides, called histone-like proteins (HLPs), which appear to be an important component of non-specific immunity in channel catfish Ictaluruspunctatus skin. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure the predominant HLP (HLP-1) in channel catfish skin. Catfish were then exposed to a chronic stress consisting of overcrowding and elevated ammonia. Healthyunstressed fish had consistently high HLP-1 levels, but fish that had been stressed for 1 wk had significantly depressed HLP-1 levels; HLP-1 levels declined further in fish stressed for 3 or 4 wk. The time-dependent decline in HLP-1 levels was notaccompanied by any gross signs of disease. In contrast to HLP-1 levels, antibacterial activity in the skin was significantly greater in fish stressed for 1 wk compared with unstressed fish; in addition, antibacterial activity was the same in fish thatwere unstressed or stressed for 3 or 4 wk. This suggests that other antibiotics besides HLP-1 may be induced in the skin, especially during early stages of stress, that may compensate for depressed HLP-1 levels. Our results indicate that chronic stresshas a significant suppressive effect on HLP-1 levels in channel catfish skin. The reduction of HLP-1 in the absence of clinical signs of disease, combined with evidence that its levels are not affected by the acute stressors of capture or sampling,suggests that HLP levels may be a promising indicator for monitoring fish health.

【 授权许可】

Unknown