Publication Abstract

Water based measurement of rainbow trout melatonin

J.D. James, T. Ellis and A.P. Scott

Melatonin (MLT) was isolated from water samples using solid phase extraction cartridges and measured by radio-immunoassay. In tanks of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss concentrations of MLT in water increased rapidly from < 0.1 ng l^-1 during the day to 0.7 ng l^-1 during the night, corresponding to reported changes in plasma MLT concentrations. The colour of the tanks and an acute handling stress during the day did not affect concentrations of MLT during either the day or night.

Reference:

J.D. James T, Ellis and A.P. Scott   (2004) Water based measurement of rainbow trout melatonin. Journal of  Fish Biology, 65: 1298-1304