Thermal tolerance, oxygen consumption and haemato-biochemical variables of Tor putitora juveniles acclimated to five temperatures

• Published in: Fish physiology and biochemistry 2013-12, Vol.39 (6), p.1387-1398
• Main Authors: Akhtar, M. S, Pal, A. K, Sahu, N. P, Ciji, A, Mahanta, P. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acclimation; Acclimatization; Adaptation; adenosinetriphosphatase; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Animal Physiology; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blood; blood glucose; brain; catalase; Cyprinidae - metabolism; Endangered & extinct species; Enzymatic activity; enzyme activity; Enzymes; Fish; Fisheries; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; heat tolerance; hemoglobin; Histology; Hot Temperature; Immunology; juveniles; kidneys; leukocyte count; leukocytes; Life Sciences; liver; Metabolism; Morphology; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption; Physiology; Random Allocation; superoxide dismutase; temperature; Thermal stress; Water Quality; Water temperature; Yeast; Zoology
• ISSN: 0920-1742; 1573-5168
• DOI: 10.1007/s10695-013-9793-7

A 30-day acclimation trial was conducted using Tor putitora to elucidate its thermal tolerance, oxygen consumption, haemato-biochemical variables and selected enzymatic activities at five acclimation temperatures (AT). Juveniles of T. putitora were randomly distributed among five treatment groups (20, 23, 26, 29 and 32 ± 0.5 °C). There was a significant curvilinear increase in critical thermal maxima (CTₘₐₓ) (y = −0.0693x ² + 1.7927x + 34.628, R ² = 0.996) and lethal thermal maxima (LTₘₐₓ) (y = −0.1493x ² + 2.3407x + 35.092, R ² = 0.991) with increasing AT. The oxygen consumption rate increased significantly with increasing AT. The Q ₁₀ values were 1.16 between 20 and 23 °C, 3.09 between 23 and 26 °C, 1.31 between 26 and 29 °C and 1.76 between 29 and 32 °C of AT. The acclimation response ratios were ranged between 0.37 and 0.59. Catalase, superoxide dismutase and ATPase activities were increased linearly in liver, gill and kidney, while brain acetylcholine esterase activity decreased linearly with increasing AT. Blood glucose remained unchanged up to AT of 26 °C and increased significantly at AT of 29 and 32 °C. Haemoglobin content was increased linearly with increasing AT. The highest WBC count was observed at 20 °C, and no significant changes found till AT of 26 °C and significantly decreased at 32 °C. Total serum protein and globulin were significantly decreased with increasing AT. Highest values were observed at 20 °C and remained consistent till 26 °C, then decreased significantly. There was no significant change in A/G ratio through the AT 20–29 °C and increased significantly at 32 °C. The increase in CTₘₐₓ, LTₘₐₓ and oxygen consumption rate with increasing AT may suggest that the thermal tolerance of T. putitora is dependent on its prior thermal exposure history, and it could adapt to higher AT by altering its haemato-biochemical variables.