Spawning-dependent stress response to food deprivation in Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

• Published in: Aquaculture
• Main Authors: Li, Yan, Qin, Jian G, Li, Xiaoxu, Benkendorff, Kirsten, Dr
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: ePublications@SCU 2009
• Subjects: Oyster spawning; food deprivation; glycogen; protein; phagocytosis; antimicrobial activity; Environmental Sciences; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://epubs.scu.edu.au/esm_pubs/3582; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.09.035

This study investigated the impact of spawning on metabolic and immunological responses in Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas under food deprivation. Both pre- and post-spawning oysters were deprived of food for 80 days and then refed for 52 days. Overall mortality was less than 4%, but the condition index was significantly reduced by food deprivation and spawning. Mantle glycogen of post-spawning oysters was less than pre-spawning oysters and was further depleted with reduction of adductor glycogen during food deprivation. Under food deprivation, mantle and gill proteins in pre- and post-spawning oysters were also reduced and maintained at a low level until feeding recommenced. Pre-spawning oysters exhibited strong metabolic resilience to food deprivation as indicated by faster glycogen and protein recovery than post-spawning oysters upon refeeding. The results of hemocyte phagocytosis and hemolymph antimicrobial activity also demonstrated that post-spawning oysters had low immune resilience under food deprivation. This study indicates that food deprivation impedes metabolic and immunological activities in oysters, resulting in a prolonged post-spawning recovery and low metabolic and immune capacity. This finding contributes to our understanding of the factors contributing to oyster mortality in areas with low food supply.