Impact of acute salinity exposure on physiological indices and survival of Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus)

Naeemeh Kasalkheh; Solmaz Shirali; Mohammad Ali Salarialaiabadi; Seyed Aliakbar Hedayati; Esmaeil Pagheh

doi:10.22034/ijab.v13i6.2689

Authors

Naeemeh Kasalkheh Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran.
Solmaz Shirali
solmazshirali_awz@yahoo.com
Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran.
Mohammad Ali Salarialaiabadi Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran.
Seyed Aliakbar Hedayati Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
Esmaeil Pagheh Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREO), Iranian Fisheries Science Research, Gorgan, Iran.

Vol. 13 No. 6 (2025): December

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December 25, 2025

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Increased salinity, a major stressor in aquatic environments, can significantly affect the health and survival of fish. The Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus) is an economically and ecologically valuable species of the Caspian Sea; the decline in its stocks in recent years has heightened the need to study its adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of different salinities on hematological, biochemical, and histological indices in Caspian roach. In this study, 480 fish with an average weight of 15±2 grams were maintained under laboratory conditions at salinities of 0 (Control), 6, 12, and 15 ppt. Blood and tissue samples were collected at 36, 72, and 108 hours after placement in the specified salinity concentrations. Hematological and biochemical indices, as well as the pathology of liver, gill, and kidney tissues, were investigated. The results showed that as salinity increased, the numbers of red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin, and hematocrit increased. In addition, glucose and the enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP increased significantly (P<0.05). The activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in the gills initially increased and then decreased at high salinities, indicating the fish's attempt to maintain osmotic regulation. Histological studies showed that increasing salinity induced necrosis, hyperplasia, and severe damage in the gill, liver, and kidney tissues. In total, this research showed that high salinity negatively affects the health and osmotic regulation of Caspian Roach and increases mortality in this species.

Kasalkheh, N., Shirali, S., Salarialaiabadi, M. A., Hedayati, S. A., & Pagheh, E. (2025). Impact of acute salinity exposure on physiological indices and survival of Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus). International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 13(6), 115–136. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v13i6.2689

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