Meeting Abstract

P1.162  Sunday, Jan. 4  Effects of Hypoxia on the Development of the Digestive System and Metabolism of the Zebrafish MATOZEL, Michelle; MARKS, Chris*; MOORE, Francisco/B.-G.; BAGATTO, Brian; University of Akron, Ohio; University of Akron, Ohio; University of Akron, Ohio; University of Akron, Ohio bagatto@uakron.edu

Hypoxia slows growth and development, and limits the survival of many fish species. Many studies in fish have shown a significant decrease in metabolic rate when exposed to hypoxia; a mechanism which permits fish to survive but may come at a cost. Whether a cost or benefit, data show that many fish species including zebrafish are smaller to their normoxic counterparts when reared in hypoxic water. Smaller body size could be directly related to the decrease in the metabolic rate, which may or may not be related to a decreased amount of food consumption. The development of the digestive system itself may also be delayed by hypoxia. Decreased blood flow to the gut, could easily lower caloric assimilation. The effects of hypoxia on the digestive system were studied in larval and juvenile zebrafish. Yolk volume, blood flow to yolk, gut and cloacal area, and heart rate were compared between normoxic and hypoxic zebrafish larvae. The larval experiments show that there is a lag in development of the digestive system and decrease in blood flow in hypoxic zebrafish. In juvenile zebrafish, metabolic rates were lower in hypoxic zebrafish. It is yet undetermined if food consumption and assimilation differ between the two groups.