Stocking density and cohort sampling effects on endocrine interactions in rainbow trout

Studies were conducted to explore the effect of cohort sampling and stocking density on the interactions between plasma growth hormone (GH), thyroid hormone and cortisol concentrations in rainbow trout. Depending on the experimental design, plasma GH concentrations were either suppressed, or elevated by sequential removal of cohorts from the holding aquarium. Since plasma cortisol concentrations consistently increased during cohort sampling, regardless of experimental design, it would appear that the apparent correlation (direct or inverse) is the result of concomitant changes, i.e. not necessarily a cause-effect relationship. Plasma GH concentrations of rainbow trout were not correlated with eviscerated body weight. Trout stocked at 150 kg m−3 exhibited a significantly lower mean growth rate, hepatosomatic index, hepatic lipid reserve, plasma triiodo-l-thyronine (T3) concentration andin vitro hepatic T3 production than trout stocked at 60 kg m−3. These observations are consistent with the former group being food deprived or ration restricted. Stocking density appeared to have no effect on plasma GH or cortisol concentrations, or on the pituitary-interrenal axis response to stressor challenge, or the thyroid tissue response to exogenous TSH challenge.