Tuesday 12 July 2016

Physiological and immunological conditions of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka, 1867) during dormancy

Published Date

June 2013, Vol.444:31–37, doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.03.008

Title

Physiological and immunological conditions of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka, 1867) during dormancy

Author

Mariel Gullian Klanian^,

Universidad Marista de Mérida, Periférico Norte Tablaje Catastral 13941, Carr. Mérida-Progreso, C.P. 97300 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

Received 8 March 2013. Revised 15 March 2013. Accepted 15 March 2013. Available online 9 April 2013.

Highlights

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Within 12 months of inactivity, dormancy is a fairly light state in I. badionotus.
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The body volume and protein level decreases with increasing dormancy.
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The antioxidant complex shows deterioration after 24 months of dormancy.
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Phenoloxidase activity is present during the 24 months of dormancy.
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After 48 months of dormancy I. badionotus cannot return to the active status.

Abstract

Dormancy is a state of reduced metabolic activity adopted by organisms during periods of environmental stress, including physiological and biochemical adaptations. In this study, the physiological and immunological statuses of two populations of Isostichopus badionotus with different times of dormancy (B12 = 12 months and B24 = 24 months) are compared with a physiologically active population (BC = control). The coelomic liquid (CL) of 18 organisms from each batch (B24, B12, and BC) was used to perform the biochemical analysis. The body volume of dormant I. badionotusdecreased exponentially as time passed under stable conditions. The total protein of B24 (9.26 mg/ml) was lower than that of B12 (15.64 mg/ml) and BC (13.21 mg/ml). Carbohydrate content was similar in both groups (B24 and B12) of dormant I. badionotus but lower than that of the control (6.93 mg/ml). The cholesterol content of B12 (0.40 mg/ml) was significantly higher than the similar cholesterol levels of B24 and the control. Activities of superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were higher in B12 than in B24 and BC. Phenoloxidase was lower in dormant sea cucumbers than the control (37.3 U/ml). Dormancy for the B12 organisms appears to be a fairly light state, involving no physiological changes that cannot be rapidly reversed. In contrast, the B24 organisms showed deterioration of their antioxidant complex and low lipid and protein reserves after 48 months, suggesting that the return to an active state would be impossible.