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Animals
Special Issues
Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare
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Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 21786

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Luciana Castaldo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: embriology; reproductive and digestive system
Prof. Dr. Carla Lucini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions (MVPA), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Interests: brain; fish; neuroanatomy; gut; pancreas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

In recent decades, attention to animal welfare has been increasing, but the focus has been mainly on mammals, only 0.2% of the animal species on earth. This depends on the “anthropomorphic” judgment of sensitiveness, pain, and self-consciousness. Regarding non-mammalian species, several scientists retain fish feel only nociception, a reflex response to a noxious, potentially painful stimulus. However, fish have a neuroanatomical organization of the somatosensory system similar to higher vertebrates, which suggests they experience pain in a manner similar to the rest of the vertebrates.

Fish represents a huge food group: humans exploit fish in wild harvesting, catch and release fisheries, ornamental fish possession, and aquaculture. In recent years, the number of teleost fish used as animal models for scientific research in both biomedical and ecological fields has also increased. Ensuring the welfare of fish is a challenging issue because the number of extant species is much greater than that of all other vertebrates and each species has its own specific physical and chemical requirements. These factors make it difficult to provide generalized recommendations or requirements for all fish species. Adequate knowledge of the morpho-physiology is required and the ecology of each species needs to be considered.

This Special Issue of Animals welcomes multiple morpho-physiological approaches to understand how fish receive environmental stimuli and what leads them to a well-being or stress state, key features of reproductive, developmental, and growth performance.

We look forward to your contribution to this challenging area of research.

Prof. Luciana Castaldo
Prof. Carla Lucini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • welfare
  • fish
  • teleosts
  • anatomy
  • physiology
  • reproduction
  • development
  • growth
  • sense organs
  • brain
  • gonads
  • gut

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4538 KiB  
Article
Morphology of the Spleen in Oreochromis niloticus: Splenic Subregions and the Blood-Spleen Barrier
by Yang He, Erlong Wang, Kaiyu Wang, Jun Wang, Wei Fan, Defang Chen and Qian Yang
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2934; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102934 - 11 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4318
Abstract
The spleen is a separate organ of the teleost, playing an essential role in immune reactions. The morphology of the spleen is different from the fish species. Little knowledge about the spleen structure and the blood splenic barrier (BSB) in Nile tilapia has [...] Read more.
The spleen is a separate organ of the teleost, playing an essential role in immune reactions. The morphology of the spleen is different from the fish species. Little knowledge about the spleen structure and the blood splenic barrier (BSB) in Nile tilapia has been reported. To address this issue, we studied the histology of the spleen and the BSB in healthy Nile tilapia. The morphology of the spleen was observed, then H&E staining, modified Jame’s staining, and ultrastructural techniques were performed to portion the spleen into three subregions and analyze the location of components and fibers. Thereafter, vital staining of Nile tilapia with Trypan blue was conducted to elucidate the composition and function of BSB. Histologically, the spleen could be divided into three subregions (inner, middle, and outer). The venules, clumps of lymphocytes, and vessels were separately characterized features of the outer, middle, and inner layers. Post injection, Trypan blue was intercepted in the endotheliocytes of ellipsoids in the middle layer (i.p.) or was deposited to the reticular fibers surrounding the ellipsoids (i.v.). Additionally, the amount of Trypan blue was shown to be positively correlated to that of the Acid phosphatase expressed. In conclusion, the spleen could be portioned into three subregions, and the BSB lay in the middle layer, composed of the cuboidal-shaped endotheliocytes and the surrounding reticular fibers of the ellipsoid capillaries. The present study enriched the research of immune tissues and system in tilapia and provided reference for the study of spleen in other fish species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare)
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13 pages, 2250 KiB  
Article
Muscle Cortisol Levels, Expression of Glucocorticoid Receptor and Oxidative Stress Markers in the Teleost Fish Argyrosomus regius Exposed to Transport Stress
by Martina Bortoletti, Lisa Maccatrozzo, Giuseppe Radaelli, Stefano Caberlotto and Daniela Bertotto
Animals 2021, 11(4), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041160 - 18 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3676
Abstract
Fish commercial transport is an ordinary practice in the aquaculture industry. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 48 h transport stress on stress response of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) juveniles. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and Real-Time PCR were used to evaluate [...] Read more.
Fish commercial transport is an ordinary practice in the aquaculture industry. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 48 h transport stress on stress response of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) juveniles. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and Real-Time PCR were used to evaluate muscle cortisol levels and to assess glucocorticoid receptor (gr) gene expression in fish muscle and liver, respectively. Presence and localization of various oxidative stress markers were investigated in different tissues by immunohistochemistry. A significant increase in muscle cortisol levels was observed after loading but a significant decrease occurred after 16 h from departure even without returning to control levels. Molecular analysis on stress response revealed an increase in muscle gr expression after fish loading that started decreasing during the travel returning to the control level at the end of the transport. Instead, no differences in liver gr expression were observed along the different sampling points. Immunostaining for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), nitrotyrosine (NT) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) antibodies was detected in several organs. Notably, a higher NT immunostaining intensity was evident in skin and gills of the transported animals with respect to controls. Results demonstrated that cortisol and gr are useful indicators of stressful conditions in transported fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare)
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15 pages, 2768 KiB  
Article
Salinity, Temperature and Ammonia Acute Stress Response in Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles: A Multidisciplinary Study
by Matteo Zarantoniello, Martina Bortoletti, Ike Olivotto, Stefano Ratti, Carlo Poltronieri, Elena Negrato, Stefano Caberlotto, Giuseppe Radaelli and Daniela Bertotto
Animals 2021, 11(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010097 - 6 Jan 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4068
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the acute response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles exposed to temperature, salinity and ammonia stress. Radioimmunoassay was used to evaluate cortisol levels, whereas insulin-like growth factors (igf1 and igf2), myostatin (mstn [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to investigate the acute response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles exposed to temperature, salinity and ammonia stress. Radioimmunoassay was used to evaluate cortisol levels, whereas insulin-like growth factors (igf1 and igf2), myostatin (mstn), heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) and glucocorticoid receptor (gr) gene expression was assessed trough Real-Time PCR. The presence and localization of IGF-I and HSP70 were investigated by immunohistochemistry. In all the stress conditions, a significant increase in cortisol levels was observed reaching higher values in the thermic and chemical stress groups. Regarding fish growth markers, igf1 gene expression was significantly higher only in fish subjected to heat shock stress while, at 60 min, igf2 gene expression was significantly lower in all the stressed groups. Temperature and ammonia changes resulted in a higher mstn gene expression. Molecular analyses on stress response evidenced a time dependent increase in hsp70 gene expression, that was significantly higher at 60 min in fish exposed to heat shock and chemical stress. Furthermore, the same experimental groups were characterized by a significantly higher gr gene expression respect to the control one. Immunostaining for IGF-I and HSP70 antibodies was observed in skin, gills, liver, and digestive system of gilthead seabream juveniles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare)
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20 pages, 7030 KiB  
Article
Mucosal Hallmarks in the Alimentary Canal of Northern Pike Esox lucius (Linnaeus)
by Giampaolo Bosi, Massimo Lorenzoni, Antonella Carosi and Bahram Sayyaf Dezfuli
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091479 - 22 Aug 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2689
Abstract
On the basis of trophic behavior, fish are classified as herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, or detritivores. Epithelial mucous cells secrete mucin types specific to diet and digestive function. Mucus secretion is regulated mainly by molecular modulators produced by epithelial endocrine cells in response to [...] Read more.
On the basis of trophic behavior, fish are classified as herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, or detritivores. Epithelial mucous cells secrete mucin types specific to diet and digestive function. Mucus secretion is regulated mainly by molecular modulators produced by epithelial endocrine cells in response to luminal or tissue stimuli. These modulators are involved in control of food intake and digestive functions. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies were conducted on 10 adult northern pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) from Lake Piediluco (Central Italy) to quantify distribution of sub-types of mucous and endocrine cells in alimentary mucosal epithelium. Neutral mucins predominated in the esophagus, and mixed and acidic mucins predominated in stomach and intestine. The gastric epithelium contained endocrine cells secreting somatostatin, tyrosine hydroxylase, and substance P. Mucous cells secreting neutral mucins increased in number from proximal to distal intestine, with endocrine cells containing substance P in the proximal intestine and those containing Leu-enkephalin throughout the intestine. Lectin histochemistry of gut sections revealed an abundance of N-acetyl-glucosamine and N-acetyl-galactosamine as carbohydrate residues on the mucin chain. The quantity and content of endocrine and mucous cells in the alimentary canal of E. lucius showed a direct relationship with its diet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare)
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Review

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11 pages, 572 KiB  
Review
Acid-Sensing Ion Channels in Zebrafish
by Giuseppe Montalbano, Maria Levanti, Kamel Mhalhel, Francesco Abbate, Rosaria Laurà, Maria Cristina Guerrera, Marialuisa Aragona and Antonino Germanà
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2471; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082471 - 23 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5706
Abstract
The ASICs, in mammals as in fish, control deviations from the physiological values of extracellular pH, and are involved in mechanoreception, nociception, or taste receptions. They are widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system. In this review, we summarized the data [...] Read more.
The ASICs, in mammals as in fish, control deviations from the physiological values of extracellular pH, and are involved in mechanoreception, nociception, or taste receptions. They are widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system. In this review, we summarized the data about the presence and localization of ASICs in different organs of zebrafish that represent one of the most used experimental models for the study of several diseases. In particular, we analyzed the data obtained by immunohistochemical and molecular biology techniques concerning the presence and expression of ASICs in the sensory organs, such as the olfactory rosette, lateral line, inner ear, taste buds, and in the gut and brain of zebrafish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Morpho-Physiological Evaluation of Fish Welfare)
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