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The effect of five different light regimes on growth, stress and hematological indices was studied in Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus. Fish with average weight of 645.3 ± 11.2 g were subjected to different photoperiods (24 L, 12 L:12 D, 16 L:8 D, 8 L:16 D and 24 D) for 8 wk. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment for measuring cortisol, glucose and hematological features. The whole growth parameters showed no significant difference. Plasma cortisol concentration was significantly higher in 12 L:12 D, while the lowest level was observed in fish exposed to 24 D. No significant changes were observed among the treatments for glucose concentration. Lactate concentration varied significantly among the treatments. Some hematological indices including hematocrit and number of white blood cells were affected by different light regimes, but the others (hemoglobin and number of red blood cells) were not affected significantly. The results showed that photoperiod manipulation can alters some stress-related metabolites and may enhance growth rate in fish exposing to continuous darkness.

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding rate of the great sturgeon (Huso huso) young of the year (YOY) and to investigate the effects of different feeding rates in maintaining the weight of fish during short periods of winter starvation. Six feeding rates of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0% body weight (BW) day−1 and feeding to satiation were considered for the first experiment. Each feeding rate was randomly assigned to three replicate tanks, with continuous feeding throughout a 5‐week winter period of water temperatures below 10°C. Fifteen fish were held in each of 18 tanks with an average initial body weight of 219.6 ± 6.9 g. After 5 weeks of feeding, the best performance was observed in fish fed 1% BW day−1, but negative growth was observed in fish fed 0.2% BW day−1. In the second experiment, fish were deprived of feed for 3 weeks at winter temperatures. Weights and condition factors of all fish decreased during starvation, while the differences in mean weight before and after the starvation period were not significant in fish fed a level of 0.2% BW day−1 and those fish fed to satiation. No mortality was recorded in either experiment. Results of this study indicate that a feeding rate of 1% BW day−1 would be sufficient for commercial fish farming of YOY of this species to maintain them over winter. Also, to maintain fish weights and prevent weight loss in overwintering ponds, a feeding rate of around 0.3% BW day−1 seems appropriate for hatcheries.

Juvenile stellate sturgeon Acipenser stellatus were intraperitoneally injected with estradiol-17β (E2; 0 and 5 mg/kg fish) to investigate the possibility of sex reversal and also determine the changes in biochemical parameters. Five-month-old fish (40.9 ± 1.1 g) were injected every 3-week interval during a 190-day trial. At the termination of the experiment, final weight and other growth parameters including weight gain and specific growth rate, hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indices were not affected by repetitive injection of E2. Hematological features of E2-treated fish showed significant reductions in number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P < 0.05), but no significant changes were observed in number of white blood cells, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P > 0.05). Calcium, phosphorus, glucose, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, total protein and estradiol concentrations were significantly increased in fish injected with E2 (P < 0.001). Plasma progesterone and testosterone levels were noticeably lower in fish injected with 5 mg/kg E2 rather than the control fish (P < 0.001). Histological observations of gonads showed that all fish injected with 5 mg/kg E2 apparently feminized, while 66.6 % of the control group was female. These results revealed that the injection of E2 is an effective method for feminization of stellate sturgeon without having significant inhibitory effects on growth and survival.

The dynamics of stress responses in small, juvenile pikeperch Sander lucioperca (as a representative teleostean) and small, juvenile Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus (as a chondrostean) were determined during capture and transportation for release into rivers. Blood samples were obtained from juveniles from a pond, channel, and loading basin and at 1.5 and 24 h after loading. Samples were analyzed for cortisol, glucose, and lactate concentrations, and mortality was recorded. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased, reaching a maximum in Persian sturgeon from the channel and pikeperch from the loading basin. Significant increases in plasma glucose concentrations were observed in samples from the channel and at 1.5 h after loading for Persian sturgeon and pikeperch, respectively. Similarly, significant decreases in lactate concentrations were observed 1.5 h after loading in both species. The results of this study show the sensitivity of these species to stress during transportation. They suggest a higher resistance to transportation stress by the sturgeon than the pikeperch, but it is highly recommended that transportation procedures and capture techniques be modified so that they are appropriate for the species.

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