Effects of Social Hierarchy Establishment on Stress Response and Cell Phagocytosis in Gilt-Head Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

Social stress can affect the ability of fish to respond various stressors, such as pathogens or environmental variations. In this paper, effects social on gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) were investigated. To study physiological stress, we evaluated biochemical and cellular parameters, cortisol, glucose, lactate, osmolarity, phagocytosis, 24 h after establishment hierarchy in a group three fish. was determined characterized by behavioral observation (aggressive acts feeding order) specimens (dominant: “?”; subordinate: “?” “?”). After hierarchy, observed that, overall, levels plasma cortisol other plasmatic markers (glucose lactate) higher subordinate individuals than dominant individuals. addition, modulation phagocytic activity peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) demonstrated that appeared immune response. Finally, principal component analysis clearly separated groups from groups, based cells. This contributes current knowledge sea bream, helping understand link between behavior, physiology species, relevant aquaculture sector, where are subjected several kinds stress.