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Effects of melatonin and green-wavelength LED light on the physiological stress and immunity of goldfish, Carassius auratus, exposed to high water temperature

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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of increasing water temperature (22–30 °C) on the physiological stress response and immunity of goldfish, Carassius auratus, and the ability of green light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation or melatonin injections to mitigate this temperature-induced stress. To evaluate the effects of either green-wavelength LED light or melatonin on stress in goldfish, we measured plasma triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid hormone receptor (TR) mRNA expression; plasma cortisol and glucose; and immunoglobulin M (IgM) and lysozyme mRNA expression. The thyroid hormone activities, TR mRNA expression, and plasma cortisol and glucose were higher in goldfish exposed to high-temperature water, but were lower after exposure to melatonin or green-wavelength LED light. Lysozyme mRNA expression and plasma IgM activity and protein expression were lower after exposure to high water temperatures and higher after melatonin or green-wavelength LED light treatments. Therefore, high water temperature induced stress and decreased immunity; however, green-wavelength LED light and melatonin treatments mitigated the effects of stress and enhanced immunity. The benefits of melatonin decreased with time, whereas those of green-wavelength LED treatment did not.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Project “Innovative marine production technology driven by LED-ICT convergence photo-biology” and the Project (Grant Number; 20140513) funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic Korea, and by Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (PE99312).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Marine BioScience, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, Republic of Korea

    Seo Jin Jung, Na Na Kim, Young Jae Choi, Ji Yong Choi & Cheol Young Choi

  2. Biological Oceanography and Marine Biology Division, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan, 15627, Republic of Korea

    Young-Ung Choi

  3. LED-Marine Biology Convergence Technology Research Center, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48547, Republic of Korea

    Youn Seong Heo

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  1. Seo Jin Jung
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  2. Na Na Kim
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  3. Young Jae Choi
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  4. Ji Yong Choi
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  5. Young-Ung Choi
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  7. Cheol Young Choi
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Correspondence to Cheol Young Choi.

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Jung, S.J., Kim, N.N., Choi, Y.J. et al. Effects of melatonin and green-wavelength LED light on the physiological stress and immunity of goldfish, Carassius auratus, exposed to high water temperature. Fish Physiol Biochem 42, 1335–1346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-016-0221-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-016-0221-7

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