Osmoregulation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The osmoregulation capabilities of juvenile Siberian sturgeon exposed to three experimental osmolalities ( 22, 250 and 387 mOsmol kg(-1)) were studied over a 45-day period. Growth performance, haematological parameters, ion concentrations, gill and spiral valve Na+-K+-ATPase activities, as well as gill and spiral valve histology, were measured. At the end of the period, the plasma osmolality of fish kept in 250 and 387 mOsmol kg(-1) was higher than that of fish kept in 22 mOsmol kg(-1). Similar trends were observed in electrolyte concentrations. Spiral valve and gill Na+-K+-ATPase activity varied with exposure time and environmental salinity. Shortly after being transferred to hyperosmotic media, spiral valve Na+ -K+-ATPase activity fell, while gill Na+-K+-ATPase activity remained constant. At the end of the experiment, gill Na+-K+- ATPase activities in fish kept in isosmotic and hyperosmotic media had increased in comparison to those of the control fish. Moreover, spiral valve Na+- K+-ATPase activities recovered and were similar to those recorded in fish kept in hyposmotic environments. Although some of the morpho-physiological mechanisms were operational in juvenile Siberian sturgeon in their adaptation to hyperosmotic media, fish cannot be considered hyperosmotic regulators as they were unable to maintain their plasma osmolality and electrolyte equilibrium in salinities higher than 250 mOsmol kg(-1). This suggests that the culture of juvenile Siberian sturgeon in brackish environments is unlikely to be successful. However, our data indicate that in natural environments, juvenile Siberian sturgeon in migratory populations (Ob and Lena Rivers) would be able to migrate successfully into estuarine brackish grounds with a salinity of up to 9parts per thousand.