The influence of stocking density and food deprivation in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen): A metabolic and endocrine approach

The influence of stocking density and food deprivation on energy metabolism, stress processes and the pituitary endocrine system of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) was investigated after a period of 14 days, in which plasmatic and hepatic parameters and the mRNA expression of prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) and somatolactin (SL) were assessed. The fish were subjected to four experimental conditions: (1) fed under high stocking density (32 kg/m3, HSD); (2) fed under mean stocking density (16 kg/m3, MSD); (3) fed under low stocking density (8 kg/m3, LSD); and (4) food-deprived under low stocking density (8 kg/m3, LSD-FD). After 14 days, plasma and liver samples were obtained to analyze the metabolite levels and enzymatic activities related to metabolism, and pituitary glands were obtained to analyze hormone expression (PRL, GH and SL). Liver weight and the hepato-somatic index (HSI) revealed that specimens maintained at HSD and/or MSD had higher hepatic stores, which were observed in the triglyceride and glycogen levels in this tissue, than animals submitted to the LSD and LSD-FD groups. Triglyceride levels in the plasma and liver revealed the consumption of fatty acid reserves in the fasting group. Enzymatic activities, such as glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), phosphorylase (GPase), pyruvate kinase (PK), aspartate transaminase (AST) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), indicated an increase in gluconeogenic pathways in the HSD group and an increase in glycolitic metabolism in the LSD groups. The expression of PRL was not affected by stocking density and/or food deprivation and GH decreased with increased density and increased in fasting conditions. A negative effect of density and fasting was observed on the expression of SL. Overall, the data suggested that juvenile silver catfish reared at stocking densities of 16 to 32 kg/m3 were better maintained than those maintained at the lowest density.