intestinal barrier function of atlantic salmon (salmo salar l.) post smolts is reduced by common sea cage environments and suggested as a possible physiological welfare indicator肠道屏障功能的大西洋鲑鱼(大西洋鲑l .)发布溯河洄游是减少常见海洋笼环境和建议作为一个可能的生理福利指标.pdfVIP

Sundh et al. BMC Physiology 2010, 10:22 /1472-6793/10/22 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Intestinal barrier function of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) post smolts is reduced by common sea cage environments and suggested as a possible physiological welfare indicator 1* 2 2,5 3 4 2 Henrik Sundh , Bjørn Olav Kvamme , Frode Fridell , Rolf Erik Olsen , Tim Ellis , Geir Lasse Taranger , Kristina Sundell1 Abstract Background: Fish farmed under high intensity aquaculture conditions are subjected to unnatural environments that may cause stress. Therefore awareness of how to maintain good health and welfare of farmed fish is important. For Atlantic salmon held in sea cages, water flow, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and temperature will fluctuate over time and the fish can at times be exposed to detrimentally low DO levels and high temperatures. This experimental study investigates primary and secondary stress responses of Atlantic salmon post smolts to long-term exposure to reduced and fluctuating DO levels and high water temperatures, mimicking situations in the sea cages. Plasma cortisol levels and cortisol release to the water were assessed as indicators of the primary stress response and intestinal barrier integrity and physiological functions as indicators of secondary responses to changes in environmental conditions. Results: Plasma cortisol levels were elevated in fish exposed to low (50% and 60% saturation) DO levels and low temperature (9°C), at days 9, 29 and 48. The intestinal barrier function, measured as electrical resistance (TER) and permeability of mannitol at the end of the experiment, were reduced at 50% DO, in both proximal and distal intestine. When low DO levels were combined with hig