Sammendrag
We have previously shown in farrned salmon that augmented levels of maternal
cortisol exert detrimental impacts on the physiological and morphological
development of offspring. Our results thus accentuate the importance of
knowledge on how the maternal endocrinological state during gametogenesis may
impinge on offspring characters in salmonids, and further substantiates the
necessity of incorporating maternal effects when evaluating rearing conditions
and animal welfare in commercial aquaculture. There is however a huge lack of
information regarding the impacts of prenatal stress on behavioural
dispositions in fish. In mammals and birds, prenatally stressed offspring
typically have reduced stress coping ability, demonstrated by a general
propensity to be more fearful and exhibit exaggerated behavioural responses to
novel and aversive situations; and they may also show impaired competitive
ability and learning skills. In the current project we will give rnature
females intraperitoneal cortisol implants in order to investigate whether
(modelled) prenatal stress in farrned salmon affects the emotional and
cognitive function of offspring, and thereby their capacity to cope with
stress. Specifically, we will test the hypothesis that prenatal stress
increases fearfulness and stress reactivity by exposing offspring to a novel
environment. The impacts of prenatal stress on competitive ability will be
measured by pairing prenatally stressed offspring and controls and observing
social dominance. Further, the outcome of prenatal stress on cognitive skilIs
of offspring will be investigated by assessing the number of trials needed to
learn a simple conditioned task. We will also examine proximate mechanisms
possibly related to the observed impacts of prenatal stress on behaviour, that
is basal and stress-induced levels of cortisol, noradrenaline, serotonin and
dopamine. Finally, impacts of prenatal stress on the morphology of offspring
will be scrutinized.
NFR 173261 - kontraktspartner overfor NFR: UMB/IHA
Vis fullstendig beskrivelse
Vitenskapelig sammendrag
We have previously shown in farrned salmon that augmented levels of maternal
cortisol exert detrimental impacts on the physiological and morphological
development of offspring. Our results thus accentuate the importance of
knowledge on how the maternal endocrinological state during gametogenesis may
impinge on offspring characters in salmonids, and further substantiates the
necessity of incorporating maternal effects when evaluating rearing conditions
and animal welfare in commercial aquaculture. There is however a huge lack of
information regarding the impacts of prenatal stress on behavioural
dispositions in fish. In mammals and birds, prenatally stressed offspring
typically have reduced stress coping ability, demonstrated by a general
propensity to be more fearful and exhibit exaggerated behavioural responses to
novel and aversive situations; and they may also show impaired competitive
ability and learning skills. In the current project we will give rnature
females intraperitoneal cortisol implants in order to investigate whether
(modelled) prenatal stress in farrned salmon affects the emotional and
cognitive function of offspring, and thereby their capacity to cope with
stress. Specifically, we will test the hypothesis that prenatal stress
increases fearfulness and stress reactivity by exposing offspring to a novel
environment. The impacts of prenatal stress on competitive ability will be
measured by pairing prenatally stressed offspring and controls and observing
social dominance. Further, the outcome of prenatal stress on cognitive skilIs
of offspring will be investigated by assessing the number of trials needed to
learn a simple conditioned task. We will also examine proximate mechanisms
possibly related to the observed impacts of prenatal stress on behaviour, that
is basal and stress-induced levels of cortisol, noradrenaline, serotonin and
dopamine. Finally, impacts of prenatal stress on the morphology of offspring
will be scrutinized.
NFR 173261 - kontraktspartner overfor NFR: UMB/IHA
Vis fullstendig beskrivelse
