The humoral effects of epin in Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser baeri Brandt)

Abstract

Immersing Siberian sturgeon fry of an average body mass of 40 ± 4 g in epin solution  (0.1 mg l^-1) resulted in an increase of ceruloplasmin level over the entire experimental period (P < 0.001). The differences between the treated and control groups gradually increased reaching the maximum in the fourth and fifth weeks of the study when average levels of ceruloplasmin in the epin-treated group were 2.5 and 5.7-fold higher, respectively. In the control group, ceruloplasmin levels were considerably higher in the first four weeks in comparison to the last two weeks (P < 0.01). The bacteriolytic activity of lysozyme increased up to 50% compared to the control group (P < 0.05) in the first and fourth weeks. The sturgeon in the epin-treated group also showed from 10 to 65% higher concentrations of (-globulin levels than the control fish, and in the second week the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Simultaneously, total protein concentrations also increased (P < 0.05).