Divergent time course of cortisol response to stress in fish of different ages

This study investigated differences in the cortisol response of fish at different developmental stages after exposure to an acute stressor. Three experiments using 126 fish each were performed using 3 different age groups of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen): fingerlings at 60 days of age, juveniles at 180 days, and adults at 360 days. In each experiment, the fish in each group were randomly distributed into either a handled experimental group or a non-handled control group. The handled group was then exposed to an acute stressor for measurement of cortisol concentrations at 5, 15, 30, 60, and 240 min after exposure and subsequent comparison of cortisol concentrations with those of the non-handled groups at the 6 sampling times. Between the experimental and control groups, the results revealed that the handled fish in each of the 3 age groups had higher cortisol concentrations compared to the non-handled fish in the equivalent age group. Among the age groups of the handled fish, the results revealed that the fingerlings and juveniles attained peak cortisol concentrations within 5 to 30 min after stressor exposure whereas the adults attained peak concentrations 60 min after exposure. This finding has important implications for the design of research into stress and welfare among fish at different developmental stages.