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The metabolic effects of prolonged starvation and refeeding in sturgeon and rainbow trout

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Abstract

The present study examines the particular metabolic strategies of the sturgeon Acipenser naccarii in facing a period of prolonged starvation (72 days) and subsequent refeeding (60 days) compared to the trout Oncorhynchus mykiss response under similar conditions. Plasma metabolites, endogenous reserves, and the activity of intermediate enzymes in liver and white muscle were evaluated. This study shows the mobilization of tissue reserves during a starvation period in both species with an associated enzymatic response. The sturgeon displayed an early increase in hepatic glycolysis during starvation. The trout preferentially used lactate for gluconeogenesis in liver and white muscle. The sturgeon had higher lipid-degradation capacity and greater synthesis of hepatic ketone bodies than the trout, although this latter species also showed strong synthesis of ketone bodies during starvation. During refeeding, the metabolic activity present before starvation was recovered in both fish, with a reestablishment of tissue reserves, plasmatic parameters (glucemia and cholesterol), and enzymatic activities in the liver and muscle. A compensatory effect in enzymes regarding lipids, ketone bodies, and oxidative metabolism was displayed in the liver of both species. There are metabolic differences between sturgeon and trout that support the contention that the sturgeon has common characteristics with elasmobranchs and teleosts.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, under the research project CGL2006/12193.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpt. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Miriam Furné, Amalia E. Morales, Cristina E. Trenzado, Manuel García-Gallego, M. Carmen Hidalgo & Ana Sanz Rus

  2. Bioteco, S.L., Granada, Spain

    Alberto Domezain

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  1. Miriam Furné
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  2. Amalia E. Morales
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  3. Cristina E. Trenzado
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  4. Manuel García-Gallego
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  5. M. Carmen Hidalgo
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  6. Alberto Domezain
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  7. Ana Sanz Rus
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Correspondence to Ana Sanz Rus.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Furné, M., Morales, A.E., Trenzado, C.E. et al. The metabolic effects of prolonged starvation and refeeding in sturgeon and rainbow trout. J Comp Physiol B 182, 63–76 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-011-0596-9

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