Stress-induced facilitation of the cortisol response in 17alpha-hydroxylase deficient XX mas-1/mas-1 carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology 2007-02, Vol.150 (3), p.473-479
• Main Authors: Ruane, N M, Th Goos, H J, Komen, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Carps - genetics; Carps - growth & development; Carps - metabolism; Female; Fish Proteins - genetics; Fish Proteins - metabolism; Hydrocortisone - blood; Interrenal Gland - enzymology; Male; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase - genetics; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase - metabolism; Stress, Psychological - enzymology; Stress, Psychological - metabolism
• ISSN: 0016-6480

Facilitation of the stress response results from a reduction of the inhibitory effects of circulating corticosteroids, allowing an animal to respond to a novel stressor. In this study, the existence of a facilitated cortisol stress response in normal (STD) and 17alpha-hydroxylase deficient XX mas-1/mas-1 (E5) carp was investigated. E5 carp had previously been characterized as having a low cortisol response to stress. Fish were subjected to either cortisol feeding or daily-acute stress, from 45 until 140 days post-hatch (dph) and were then subjected to a novel net-confinement stressor at 141 dph. Growth of E5 fish was reduced in both the daily-acute stress and cortisol-fed groups, but STD fish were only affected by daily-acute stress. Cortisol feeding had no effect on the stress response of STD fish but daily-acute stress significantly inhibited the response to a subsequent novel stressor. In contrast, daily-acute stress facilitated the cortisol stress response of E5 fish to a novel stressor, while cortisol feeding inhibited the cortisol response. Facilitation was accompanied by significant enlargement of the head-kidney tissue (which contains the steroidogenic interrenal tissue) in E5 fish. To our knowledge this is the first report of stress-induced facilitation in a lower vertebrate.