Cortisol response of golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) fed diets differing in lipid content

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the plasma cortisol response in golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) under crowding stress, and to determine whether dietary lipid affects the cortisol response. The main differences between the diets were the relative amounts and types of fatty acids of the n-3 and n-6 families. In experiment 1, triplicate groups of golden shiners were fed diets with 4 or 13% menhaden fish oil, or 4 or 13% poultry fat at 3% body weight for 4 weeks before the crowding stress. In experiment 2, fish were fed diets with 8% lipid from soybean oil (SBO), cod liver oil (CLO), (SBO+CLO), or cottonseed oil (CSO) for 6 weeks before the stress test. Plasma cortisol was measured initially, two hours after the stressor was applied, and two hours after the stressor was removed. The overall pattern of the cortisol response was similar to that seen in other warmwater fishes, but the rate and magnitude of the response were not affected by diet in either experiment. Golden shiners have an intermediate cortisol response compared to other fish that have been exposed to similarly stressful conditions.