Tolerance of Pomacanthus imperator to hypoosmotic salinities: changes in body composition and hepatic enzyme activities

Emperor angel fish Pomacanthus imperator were acclimated to various salinities (33, 22, 15, 10 and 7%) for 1 month and changes in serum chemistry, body composition and liver enzyme activities were monitored. No mortality was observed in fish adapted throughout the salinity range of 7–33% and the limit of survival was around 5%. Serum Na^+; and Cl ^– exhibited a stepwise decrease as the salinity was reduced from 33–7% but no concomitant tissue hydration could be observed. Branchial Na-K-ATPase activity was generally higher in hypoosmotic (7–15%) than in hyperosmotic salinities (22–33%o). Serum concentrations of glucose, lipid, α-amino acids and protein as well as the haematocrit value were all elevated in the salinity range of 15–22%. Serum cortisol was markedly lower but serum thyroxine was significantly elevated at 15–22%. Fish adapted to 15–22% had higher hepatosomatic indices, liver glycogen and muscle lipid contents and hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. These data indicate that Pomacanthus imperator is a' physiologically euryhaline' species and metabolism in isoosmotic salinities has been fundamentally re-organized to favour carbohydrate and lipid retention.