Abstract
The concentrations of monoamines in the hypothalamus were determined in yellow perch Perca flavescens before and after injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 3 mg kg−1 fish weight) or saline to test for the presence of neurochemical changes potentially associated with changes in plasma cortisol characteristic of intraperitoneal (ip) challenge with LPS. In the first experiment, yellow perch were injected with saline or LPS and the hypothalamus removed and plasma sampled before and at 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, and 6 h after injection. Plasma cortisol was elevated in both saline- and LPS-injected fish through 1.5 h after injection and returned to levels resembling pre-injection by 3 h after injection. Significantly higher amounts of cortisol in plasma from LPS-injected relative to saline-injected fish were observed 6 h following injection. A significant decrease relative to levels observed 0.5–3 h after handling was observed in serotonin concentrations at 6 h following LPS and saline injection with a concomitant increase in the ratio of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid:serotonin. In the second experiment, hypothalamic monoamines were sampled before and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h after injection with LPS or saline. Significant increases from pre-injection levels were observed in the ratio 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid:serotonin at 9, 12, and 24 h after injection, but no differences were detected between LPS- and saline-injected fish. These results support a model linking serotonergic system activation following handling stress, but no correlations with the sustained elevations of plasma cortisol associated with inflammatory challenge were observed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atwood HL, Tomasso JR, Ronan PJ, Barton BA, Renner KJ (2000) Brain monoamine concentrations as predictors of growth inhibition in channel catfish exposed to ammonia. J Aquat Anim Health 12:69–73
Balm PHM, van Lieshout E, Lokate J, Wendelaar Bonga SE (1995) Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin (IL-1) exert multiple physiological effects in the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Teleostei). J Comp Physiol B165:85–92
Berczi I (1998) Neurohormonal host defense in endotoxin shock. Ann NY Acad Sci 840:787–802
DeBoeck G, Nilsson GE, Vlaeminck A, Blust R (1996) Central monoamine responses to salinity and temperature rises in common carp. J Exp Biol 199:1605–1611
DiMicco JA, Samuels BC, Zaretskaia MV, Zaretsky DV (2002) The dorsomedial hypothalamus and the response to stress: part renaissance, part revolution. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 71:469–480
Dunn AJ (1992) Endotoxin-induced activation of cerebral catecholamine and serotonin metabolism: comparison with interleukin-1. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 261:964–969
Engelsma MY, Huising MO, van Muiswinkel WB, Flik G, Kwang J, Savelkoul HFJ, Verberg-van Kameade BML (2002) Neuroendocrine–immune interactions in fish: a role for interleukin-1. Vet Immunol Immunopath 87:467–479
Flik G, Klaren PHM, Van den Burg EH, Metz JR, Huising MO (2006) CRF and stress in fish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 146:36–44
Francis J, MohanKumar SM, MohanKumar PS (2000) Correlations of norepinephrine release in the paraventricular nucleus with plasma corticosterone and leptin after systemic lipopolysaccharide: blockade by soluble IL-1 receptor. Brain Res 867:180–187
Haukenes AH (2001) Characterization of the impact of a chronic density stressor on the neuroendocrine and innate immune responses of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) to an acute challenge with lipopolysaccharide. Dissertation, University of South Dakota
Haukenes AH, Barton BA (2004) Characterization of the cortisol response following an acute challenge with lipopolysaccharide in yellow perch and the influence of rearing density. J Fish Biol 64:851–862
Haukenes AH, Barton BA, Bollig H (2008) Cortisol responses of pallid sturgeon and yellow perch following challenge with lipopolysaccharide. J Fish Biol 72:780–784
Herman JP, Cullinan WE (1997) Neurocircuitry of stress: central control of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenocortical axis. Trends Neurosci 20:78–84
Lavicky J, Dunn AJ (1995) Endotoxin administration stimulates cerebral catecholamine release in freely moving rats as assessed by microdialysis. J Neurosci Res 40:407–413
Lowry CA, Burke KA, Renner KJ, Moore FL, Orchinik M (2001) Rapid changes in monoamine levels following administration of corticotrophin-releasing factor or corticosterone are localized in the dorsomedial hypothalamus. Horm Behav 39:195–205
McCann SM, Kimura M, Karanth S, Yu WH, Mastronardi CA, Rettori V (2000) The mechanism of action of cytokines to control the release of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones in infection. Ann NY Acad Sci 917:4–18
McKay L, Bradberry C, Oke A (1984) Ascorbic acid oxidase speeds up analysis for catecholamines, indoleamines and their metabolites in brain tissue using HPLC–EC. J Chromatogr 311:167–169
MohanKumar SM, MohanKumar PS, Quadri SK (1999) Lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in monoamines in specific areas of the brain: blockade by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. Brain Res 834:232–237
Parent A (1983) The monoamine containing neuronal systems in the teleostean brain. In: Northcutt RG, Davis R (eds) Fish neurobiology. Wiley, Rexdale, Canada, pp 285–315
Redding JM, Schreck CB, Birks EK, Ewing RD (1984) Cortisol and its effect on plasma thyroid hormone and electrolyte concentrations in fresh water and during seawater acclimation in yearling coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Gen Comp Endocrinol 56:146–155
Renner KJ, Luine VN (1984) Determination of monoamines in brain nuclei by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection: young vs. middle aged rats. Life Sci 24:2193–2199
Ronan PJ (1995) Effects of exogenous ammonia on central biogenic monoamine neurotransmitters in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Thesis, University of South Dakota
SAS Institute Inc (1989) SAS/STAT procedures guide for personal computers, version 6, 4th edn. SAS Institute Inc, Cary
Wedemeyer G (1969) Pituitary activation by bacterial endotoxins in the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). J Bacteriol 100:542–543
Winberg S, Lepage O (1999) Elevation of brain 5-HT activity, POMC expression, and plasma cortisol in socially subordinate rainbow trout. Am J Physiol 274:R645–R654
Winberg S, Nilsson GE (1993) Roles of brain monoamine neurotransmitters in agonistic behaviour and stress reactions, with particular reference to fish. Comp Biochem Physiol Part C 106:597–614
Winberg S, Nilsson A, Hylland P, Soderstom V, Nilsson GE (1997) Serotonin as a regulator of hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal activity in teleost fish. Neurosci Lett 230:113–116
Acknowledgments
Many individuals and entities were necessary to complete this project. Fish maintenance and sampling were possible through the combined efforts of graduate student J. Sipiorski and undergraduate students D. James, C. Jansen, J. Walker, and R. West. A.H. Haukenes was supported by research and teaching fellowships offered through a partnership between the University of South Dakota and the National Science Foundation-EPSCOR program during the course of these studies.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haukenes, A.H., Barton, B.A. & Renner, K.J. Plasma cortisol and hypothalamic monoamine responses in yellow perch Perca flavescens after intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. Fish Physiol Biochem 37, 425–432 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-010-9443-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-010-9443-2