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Anesthesia induces stress in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

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Abstract

Stress in response to anesthesia with benzocaine, MS-222, metomidate and isoeugenol was studied in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) with no concomitant stress from handling or confinement in association with anesthesia or sampling. All of the anesthetics tested induced a stress response in all species, displayed by a release of cortisol to the water. MS-222 anesthesia elicited the highest cortisol release rates, reaching maximum levels 0.5 h post-exposure and returning to basal levels after 3–4 h. Benzocaine anesthesia caused a bimodal response where the initial peak in cortisol release rate was followed by a second increase lasting towards the end of the trial (6 h). This bimodality was more profound in Atlantic salmon than in Atlantic halibut and Atlantic cod. Metomidate anesthesia induced the lowest release of cortisol of the agents tested in both Atlantic halibut and Atlantic cod, but resulted in a bimodal response in Atlantic salmon where the initial increase in cortisol release was followed by a larger increase peaking at 2–2.5 h post exposure before returning to basal levels after 5 h. The stress induced in Atlantic salmon by isoeugenol anesthesia resembled that of MS-222, but did not reach the same elevated level. Overall, the cortisol release was most profound in Atlantic salmon followed by Atlantic halibut and Atlantic cod.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Institute of Marine Research, and in particular Ivar Helge Matre and Rina Helen Skoglund for their valuable technical assistance, and Grethe Thorsheim for skilful help and support with water sample processing and analysis. Ole Folkedal and Thomas Torgersen are highly acknowledged for proficient support in calculating cortisol release rates. Financial support was given by the Norwegian Research Council, grant no. 152898/120.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, 5817, Bergen, Norway

    Inger Hilde Zahl, Ole Bent Samuelsen & Rolf Erik Olsen

  2. Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway

    Anders Kiessling

  3. Department of Biology, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, 5020, Bergen, Norway

    Inger Hilde Zahl & Ole Bent Samuelsen

  4. Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden

    Anders Kiessling

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  1. Inger Hilde Zahl
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Correspondence to Inger Hilde Zahl.

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Zahl, I.H., Kiessling, A., Samuelsen, O.B. et al. Anesthesia induces stress in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Fish Physiol Biochem 36, 719–730 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-009-9346-2

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