Changes of hematological characteristics of greenling (Hexagrammos otakii Jordan and Starks) by anaesthetics

Blood (hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell) and plasma (cortisol, glucose, lactic acid, Na+, Cl-, K+, osmolality, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) factors in greenling, Hexagrammos otakii after MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl anaesthetic were determined. Greenling (mean body length: 25.8 ± 1.6 cm, mean body weight: 194.5 ± 33.8 g) were exposed to concentrations of 125 ppm MS-222 and 800 ppm lidocaine-HCl at 18°C. Blood was collected from ten fish after anesthesia 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours, respectively. After anesthesia, the concentrations of hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell, cortisol, glucose, lactic acid, osmolality, Na+, K+, Cl-, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were determined. Control and experimental group displayed significant increases in plasma cortisol concentrations from their respective prestress levels at 0.5 hour after anaesthetic (P<0.05). Concentrations of glucose were increased from 22.3 ng/ mL to 28.5 ng/mL (0.5 hour), 31.0 ng/mL (1 hour) in experimental group, respectively. Lactic acid concentrations for experimental group were lower than those for control group at 0.5, 1 and 3 hours. In other items, control and experimental group did not show significant differences in this before and after anaesthetic. The results indicate that lidocaine-HCl and MS-222 can be used as suitable anaesthetic for the greenling. Correspondence to: I-S Park, Division of Marine Bioscience, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 606-791, Korea, Tel: +82 51 410 4321; Fax: +82 51 404 4750; E-mail: ispark@kmou.ac.kr


ISSN: 2059-0512
Changes of hematological characteristics of greenling (Hexagrammos otakii Jordan and Starks) by anaesthetics Introduction Farmed fish can be subjected to a range of stresses including handling, confinement, transport, medication, water quality, and changes in water temperature and salinity [1]. Anesthesia is primarily used to immobilize animals to facilitate the handling process without time waste and stress on animals [2]. Among its principal uses, anesthesia facilitates the operations: to weigh and measure; mark and tag; study fish physiology and behavior; perform surgery; collect fish in tidal pools and with scuba; photography; manually spawn; inject vaccines and antibiotics; and collect blood and other tissues [1]. In addition, anesthesia proved to be an effective method for the transport of the fish as sedation [1][2][3].
Considering toxicity (safety to users and to fish), efficacy, price, regulations when used and the purpose of using anesthesia, ideal anesthesia is needed. This ideal anesthesia should meet following characteristics: (1) anesthesia time within 3 min and recovery time within 5 min; (2) non-toxic to the fish; (3) ease of use and non-toxic to the user; (4) non-effective to the physiology and the movement of the experimented fish; (5) anesthesia should be excreted from internal body so that requires no withdrawal period; (6) no accumulation effect by repetition of anesthesia and no side-effect; and (7) cost-effectiveness [3].
Traditionally, chemicals such as urethane, ether and chloroform were used to anesthetize fish; however, these substances are now restricted because they all contain carcinogens [4]. Currently, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is widely used to anesthetize fish, including food fish, although it is considered mildly toxic as an edible anesthetic according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which requires that fish treated with MS-222 undergo an obligatory 21-days withdrawal period [2].
Human anesthetic compound lidocaine-HCl [2-(diethylamino)-N-(2, 6-dimethylphenyl) acetimide hydrochloride] is a white powder soluble in water, and was first administered to fish by previous study [5]. A more effective and risk-free anesthetic, such as lidocaine-HCl, which has been safely used in the dentistry industry, has been proven as a safe substitute for application on some freshwater and marine fishes in Korea [1,6]. A number of studies have investigated its effectiveness, economic viability, reusability, toxicity and side-effects to ascertain its appropriateness as a fish anesthetic [2].
The greenling, Hexagrammos otakii (Jordan and Starks) is commonly found in coastal areas of Korea throughout the year [7]. The greenling is a number of the typical seawater Hexagrammidae and a commercially important greenling species, and this species is a favorite seawater food fish because of its taste and tender meat [7]. Previous study reported the anesthesia effects of MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl on the greenling [3]. Park et al. (2003) suggested that both anesthetics were effective chemicals for the transport of the greenling as sedation [3]. However, no study has investigated possible physiological stresses and hematological characteristics of this species by anesthesia. The aim of this study was to establish physiological stresses and hematological characteristics of the greenling in optimum concentration of MS-222

Materials and methods
The greenling, Hexagrammos otakii was reared in a recirculating culture system in the Fishery Genetics and Breeding Sciences Laboratory of Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Korea. The recirculating culture system consisted of five 1,100-L circular tanks, one 1,100-L filtering tank, an aeration system and a temperature control system. Culture water was partially replaced with sand-filtered, aerated seawater (temperature 18.3 ± 1.4°C, salinity 34 ± 0.6 ppt, pH 7.6 ± 0.5, dissolved oxygen 8.5 ± 0.7 mgL -1 , ammonia 0.006 mgL -1 ) every weekend. Selected samples were starved for 24 hours before the start of experiments. Specimens used in experiments were measured using a digital vernier caliper (CD-20CP, Japan) and an electronic balance (JW-1, Korea). Average body length and body weight of greenling were found to be 25.8 ± 1.6 cm and 194.5 ± 33.8 g, respectively.
Considering the ideal anesthesia should meet characteristic of anesthesia time within 3 min and recovery time within 5 min, optimum anesthetic concentration of MS-222 (Sigma, USA) and lidocaine-HCl (Hong Sung Chemical, Korea) with 1,000 ppm NaHCO 3 determined 125 ppm (MS-222) and 800 ppm lidocaine-HCl /1,000 ppm NaHCO 3 , respectively depending on result of previous study (Tables 1  and 2) [4]. Anesthesia criterion was determined from the time when fish were stocked in anesthetized water to the time of stage A6 state, in which fish were perfectly sedate with minimum opercular movements [4,8]. Recovery criterion was determined from the time when the fish were stocked in recovery water to the time of the stage R6 state, in which normal swimming and responsiveness to visual stimulation was recommenced [4,8].
Blood physiological response was measured according to set time intervals after anesthesia of each sample. Blood samples were extracted from ten randomly selected fish at 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 24 hours post anesthesia. Control group was measured according to extracted time intervals of experimental group without anesthesia. Blood was collected 5 mL from the caudal vasculature using a disposable syringe (5 mL, Sung Shim Medical Co., Ltd, Bucheon, Korea) with heparin sodium (Shin Poong Pharm Co., Ltd, Ansan, Korea), and blood sample was extracted within 1 min to minimize handling stress. 2 mL of blood sample was analyzed hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), osmolality, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and was determined by an auto-haematology analyzer (Sysmex XE-2100D, Sysmex Corporation, Japan). 3 mL of blood sample was allowed to sit for 10 min at room temperature prior to centrifugation (Centrifuge Micro 17R, Hanil Science Industrial Co., Ltd, Incheon, Korea) for 5 min at 5,600 g. The collected plasma was transferred to another 1.5 mL microtube and kept at -80°C in a super low temperature refrigerator (CLN-50UW Nihon Freezer, Nihon Co., Japan) prior to analysis.
Plasma cortisol concentration was measured using 1470 WIZARD Automatic Gamma Counter (Cobra, Packard Co., Ramsey, MN, USA) after the antigen antibody response was derived using Coat-A-count TKCO Cortisol RIA Kit (DPC, Los Angeles, CA, USA) according to the methodology of Donaldson (1981) [9]. Lactic acid, Na + , Cl -, K + , and glucose concentration was analyzed according to methodology of Raabo and Terkildsen (1960; Kit 510, Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA) [10], where production of H 2 O 2 by glucose oxidase in the presence of o-dianisidine was evaluated as an absorbance increase at 450 nm. Using the SPSS statistics package (SPSS 9.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), oneand two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were carried out to test for statistical significance (P<0.05) between clove oil concentrations. Multiple comparisons were performed using Duncan's multiple range test [11]. All experiments were performed triplicate.

Results and discussion
During experiment, no fish were died due to the stress of anesthesia and syringe injection. Cortisol concentrations of the greenling, Hexagrammos otakii were increased significantly at 0.5 and 1 hour post anesthesia in control and anesthetic groups (Figure 1a). Cortisol concentrations of control group were increased from 5.9 ± 1.4 ng/mL at 0 hour post anesthesia to 236.5 ± 54.3 ng/mL at 1 hour post anesthesia (P<0.05). Cortisol concentrations of MS-222 anesthetic group were increased from 5.3 ± 0.8 ng/mL at 0 hour post anesthesia to 243.6 ± 28.2 ng/mL at 1 hour post anesthesia, and those of lidocaine-HCl anesthetic group were increased from 6.4 ± 0.6 ng/mL at 0 hour post anesthesia to 74.0 ± 45.3 ng/mL at 1 hour post anesthesia (P<0.05). After 3 hours post anesthesia, cortisol concentrations of all experimental groups didn't show significant differences between 0 hour post anesthesia and each measurement time (P>0.05).
As shown in Figure 1b     In this study, greenling was shown to be sensitive to anesthetic effect of MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl by investigate physiological responses of MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl. Similar researches were reported for kelp grouper, Epinephelus bruneus, dark-banded rockfish, Sebastes inermis, black rockfish, S. schlegeli and rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus [1,[12][13][14]. As mentioned previous research, experiment without anesthesia is very stressful to fish, causing abnormal metabolic rates, oxygen consumption, blood pressure, and blood physiological responses. Moreover, these side-effects can last for hours after fish recover from shock [2]. But optimum anesthetic concentration can minimize negative impacts and thus reduce stress in fish.
Plasma cortisol and plasma glucose are recognized as useful indicators of stress in fish [13,15]. Plasma cortisol and glucose levels in red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, simultaneously exposed to MS-222 and quinaldine anesthetic, were reported to be elevated [16]. Previous study stated that "Usually, phenomenon that plasma cortisol concentration of fishes rises by stress is first order reaction, phenomenon that plasma glucose concentration rises is result of second-order first order reaction by hormone rise reaction by stress" [17]. This trend has been reported in the gray mullet, Mugil cephalus and kelp grouper [13,18]. The results of previous research show that the increasing of plasma cortisol level was faster than the increasing of glucose concentrations [1,13,14,18]. However, our results showed that cortisol and glucose level increased at the same time.
One of the more traditional stress indicators has been blood lactic acid [19]. If experimental animal was added to chronic stress, then result of lactic acid concentration is high [20]. The accumulation of lactic acid in muscle or blood (hyperlacticemia) is now well accepted as an indicator of anaerobic metabolism due to fright or severe exertion [21]. However, the view that lactic acidosis is the ultimate cause of death that sometimes occurs after severe exercise has been challenged [22]. As mentioned previous study, the lactic acid level was not restored  to normal after 24 hours, which suggested that stress due to transport cannot be relieved even after a 24 hours period [23]. Our research was measured lactic acid concentrations from 0.5 hour post anesthesia to 24 hours post anesthesia. For analyze correctly the change of lactic acid concentration, we have to determine measurement time from 0.5 hour post anesthesia to 48 hours post anesthesia. However, lactic acid concentrations of anesthetic groups in our results didn't show significant difference.
Concentrations of Ht, Hb, RBC, Na + , Cl -, K + , AST and ALT were shown in Table 3. In all experimental groups, concentrations of Ht after anesthesia were higher than concentrations of those before anesthesia (P<0.05, Table 3). Concentrations of Ht in control and lidocaine-HCl anesthetic group were increase at 1 hour post anesthesia, and those in MS-222 anesthetic group were increase at 0.5 hour post anesthesia (P<0.05). At 24 hours post anesthesia, Ht concentration of lidocaine-HCl anesthetic group was highest than those of control and MS-222 anesthetic group. In all experimental groups, the trends of Hb and RBC were similar to those of Ht, and values of Hb and RBC were highest at 1 hour post anesthesia. At 24 hours post anesthesia, Hb concentration of control group was lowest than those of MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl anesthetic group, while RBC concentrations group showed no significant differences between control group and experimental group. Na + , Cl -, and K + concentrations of lidocaine-HCl anesthetic group showed no significant differences during experimental period (P>0.05, Table 3). In MS-222 anesthetic group, Na + concentration showed significant differences (P<0.05), whereas Cland K + concentrations didn't show significant differences (P>0.05). In control group, Na + and K + concentration showed significant differences (P<0.05), whereas Clconcentrations didn't show significant differences (P>0.05). While experimental period, Na + , Cl -, and K + concentrations didn't show significant differences between control group and experimental groups. The trends of AST concentrations in all experimental groups were similar to those of Na + concentrations in all experimental groups. In control and MS-222 anesthetic group, AST concentration showed significant differences (P<0.05), whereas AST concentrations in lidocaine-HCl anesthetic group didn't show significant differences (P>0.05). ALT concentrations of all experimental groups didn't show significant difference between control group and experimental groups (P>0.05).
In this study, greenling was shown to be sensitive to hematological responses of MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl by investigation of hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), osmolality, Na + , Cl -, K + , aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Similar researches were reported for black rockfish, olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus and sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis [6,12,23]. Hematocrit levels are often elevated during stress to increase the oxygen supply to the major organs in response to the higher metabolic demand [24]. Previous study reported that hematocrit was increased by handling and confi nement stress in the triploid rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss and the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis [25]. In the air-breathing fish Megalops cyprinoides, hematocrit was increased by strenuous exercise [26].
Previous study reported that hematocrit and hemoglobin levels did not increase during confinement; it can be assumed that the fish did not need to increase their oxygen carrying capacity [24]. However, results in this study showed that hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations of all experimental groups were increased until 1 hour post anesthesia and decreased after 3 hours post anesthesia. In this study, it can be assumed that the fish did need to increase the available oxygen. The reduction in hemoglobin levels may be the result of increased permeability of the gills to water, resulting in hemodilution and a net loss of ions [23]. Some metabolic levels (Na + , Cl -, K + , AST and ALT) recovered within 24 hours post anesthesia, but a longer time would be required for normal metabolism to take place after fish have experienced stress. According to the report by previous study [27], complete physiological recovery from the stresses studied would take as long as 2 weeks. The results may vary depending on the stress and the physical status of the fish, but physiological recovery may take a large amount of time overall.
In previous study, anesthesia using lidocaine-HCl and MS-222 proved to be an effective method for the transport of the greenling as sedation [3]. In this study, greenling was shown to be sensitive to physiological and hematological responses of MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the MS-222 and lidocaine-HCl have exceptional reduction effect of stress in greenling. Future investigations in greenling should focus on comparative physiological reactions and hematological characteristics induced by other fish anesthetics including clove oil.