DHEA and Cortisol in Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>): Effect of Sex, Sexual Maturity, and Acute Stress Exposure.

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoids like cortisol are widely used to assess stress in fish, but their interpretation can be limited. Incorporating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone with anti-glucocorticoid and neuroprotective effects, may provide a broader understanding of hypothalamic-pituitary-inter-renal (HPI) axis activity. As DHEA data in fish remain scarce, this study examined its role in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) subjected to acute stress (30 min confinement), considering sex and sexual maturity. Cortisol and DHEA were quantified by optimized radioimmunoassay (RIA) in serum, muscle, fin, and scales, and gonadal histology was performed to confirm reproductive status. Both hormones were successfully measured in all matrices, with serum DHEA levels notably higher than those reporte

SUBMITTER: Meloni A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12466356 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature