Abstract

The fish gut is responsible for numerous potentially energetically costly processes, yet little is known about its metabolism. Here, we provide the first in vivo measurements of aerobic metabolism of the gut in a teleost fish by measuring gut blood flow, as well as arterial and portal venous oxygen content. At 10 degrees C, gut oxygen uptake rate was 4.3 +/- 0.5 ml O-2 h(-1) kg(-1) (similar to 11 % of whole-animal oxygen uptake). Following acute warming to 15 degrees C, gut blood flow increased similar to 3.4-fold and gut oxygen uptake rate increased similar to 3.7-fold (16.0 +/- 3.3 ml O-2 h(-1) kg(-1)), now representing similar to 25% of whole-animal oxygen uptake. Although gut blood flow decreased following an acute stress event at 15 degrees C, gut oxygen uptake remained unchanged as a result of a similar to 2-fold increase in oxygen extraction. The high metabolic thermal sensitivity of the gut could have important implications for the overall aerobic capacity and performance of fish in a warming world and warrants further investigation.

Keywords

Gastrointestinal; Teleost; Oxygen consumption; Metabolism; Energy expenditure

Published in

Journal of Experimental Biology
2018, Volume: 221, number: 14
Publisher: COMPANY BIOLOGISTS LTD

SLU Authors

• Brijs, Jeroen

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Gothenburg

• Gräns, Albin

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hjelmstedt, Per

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Berg, Lotta

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.180703

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96348