Effect of saponin on hematological and immunological parameters of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

• Published in: Aquaculture 2006-12, Vol.261 (4), p.1432-1439
• Main Authors: Yeh, Shinn-Pyng, Liu, Chun-Hung, Sung, Tzeng-Gan, Lee, Pai-Po, Cheng, Winton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid-base balance; Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Biological and medical sciences; electrolytes; Freshwater; freshwater aquaculture; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; hematology; Hemocyte count; hemocytes; Hemolymph; immune response; Impact analysis; Macrobrachium rosenbergii; osmolarity; Oxyhemocyanin; phenoloxidase; Phenoloxidase activity; physiological response; protein content; Proteins; Respiratory burst; saponins; Shellfish; shrimp; shrimp culture; superoxide anion; Surfactants
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2006.08.051

Giant freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (17.9 ± 2.7 g), exposed to different concentrations of saponin at 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 mg l − 1 for 168 h were examined for osmolality, electrolyte levels, oxyhemocyanin, protein levels, acid-base balance status, total hemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity, and respiratory bursts. Hemolymph oxyhemocyanin, protein, and pO 2 were inversely related to the saponin concentration. Hemolymph oxyhemocyanin, protein, pO 2, pCO 2, and pH of prawns exposed to 1.2 mg l − 1 saponin were significantly lower than those of prawns exposed to 0.3 mg l − 1 and control solutions. However, no significant difference was observed in osmolality or electrolyte levels of prawns exposed to different concentrations of saponin for 168 h. The THC of prawns following 168 h of exposure to 0.9 and 1.2 mg l − 1 saponin increased, but the phenoloxidase activity decreased suggesting that the decrease in phenoloxidase activity under saponin stress was not a consequence of the increase in THC. We concluded that saponin at as low as 0.9 mg l − 1 decreases the respiratory protein level and acid-base balance, and modulates the immune system of M. rosenbergii.