Philippine E-Journals

A Do It Yourself (D.I.Y) Approach in Studying Stress Physiology in Vertebrates using Ornamental Fish as a Model Species

Christopher Marlowe A. Caipang | Joel E. Deocampo Jr. | Rolando V. Pakingking Jr. | Jehannie T. Fenol | Christian Le Marjo A. Caipang | Edda Brenda S. Yerro

 

Abstract:

The stress response in vertebrates is determined by measuring cortisol production in the organism following exposure to a stressor. Cortisol assays are carried out using expensive reagents and special equipment that are not readily available to most Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines when teaching physiology in undergraduate biology. In the present study, readily available materials such as sodium bicarbonate and a portable glucometer were used to elucidate stress mechanisms in vertebrates using ornamental fish as our model species. Using a “do-it-yourself” (DIY) approach, two hands-on activities: demonstrating sedation and recovery in fish using sodium bicarbonate as anesthetics and quantitating tissue glucose in fish following a stress episode using a portable glucometer were conducted to better understand the mechanisms of the stress response. The different stages of anesthesia and recovery can be clearly observed in fish sedated with sodium bicarbonate with high survival rates following recovery. The use of the portable glucometer can measure tissue glucose as an indicator of stress in fish, with elevated levels of tissue glucose following exposure to a stressor and the levels returning to their basal values during recovery. From these activities that the students can easily perform independently following a set of guide questions, they are able to better understand the various concepts in stress physiology and acquire the basic skills in proper fish handling when studying undergraduate biology.