Investigation of catchecholamine release from blood samples after different stress conditions in the three Antarctic fish; Pagothenia borchgrevinki, Trematomus bernacchii and T. centronotus

Under certain conditions, catecholamines (stress hormones) are released into the blood system of Antarctic fish. Under what conditions these hormones are released, the time course for recovery back to 'normal' levels and the time course for regeneration of the hormone in the inter-renal tissue was investigated in three species of fish; Pagothenia borchgrevinki, Trematomus bernacchii and T. centronotus. Blood samples were collected from animals immediately upon capture (capture stress), following transportation back to the Scott Base lab (handling stress) and following various periods of recovery. The blood samples were analysed for catecholamines.