Osmoregulatory Plasticity of Juvenile Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) to Environmental Salinity

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, is of particular interest for pisciculture diversification due to its flesh quality and worldwide market acceptance. Moreover, this species shows rapid growth at the juvenile stage and 75% survival under captivity conditions. Among growing conditions, salinity is a critical factor for optimal growth. This study specifically assessed and characterized the physiological status of osmoregulation in individuals acclimated to three experimental salinities (15, 22, and 36 psu) in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems for 92 days. The results indicated several physiological adaptations to the different environmental salinities, both at the osmoregulatory and metabolic levels. Overall, our results suggest a beneficial effect of lower salinities for the juvenile stage to improve growth performance and avoid seawater-parasite outbreaks prior to transfer to sea cages. ABSTRACT: Osmotic costs in teleosts are highly variable, reaching up to 50% of energy expenditure in some. In several species, environmental salinities close to the isosmotic point (~15 psu) minimize energy demand for osmoregulation while enhancing growth. The present study aimed to characterize the physiological status related to osmoregulation in early juveniles of the greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, acclimated to three salinities (15, 22, and 36 psu). Our results indicate that plasma metabolic substrates were enhanced at the lower salinities, whereas hepatic carbohydrate and energetic lipid substrates decreased. Moreover, osmoregulatory parameters, such as osmolality, muscle water content, gill and intestine Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activities, suggested a great osmoregulatory capacity in this species. Remarkably, electrophysiological parameters, such as short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial electric resistance (TER), were enhanced significantly at the posterior intestine. Concomitantly, Isc and TER anterior-to-posterior intestine differences were intensified with increasing environmental salinity. Furthermore, the expression of several adeno-hypophyseal genes was assessed. Expression of prl showed an inverse linear relationship with increasing environmental salinity, while gh mRNA enhanced significantly in the 22 psu-acclimated groups. Overall, these results could explain the better growth observed in S. dumerili juveniles kept at salinities close to isosmotic rather than in seawater.