An investigation of plasma insulin levels during starvation stress in Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

Prolonged periods of natural starvation are a common phenomenon encountered in fish during, aestivation and spawning migration. As a result of starvation there is depletion of endogenous energy reserves and hormones are known to effect metabolic changes during fasting. Hormones such as insulin are known to vary according to the nutritional status of the animal. In the present study, Anabas testudineus was subjected to short-term and long-term fasting regimes, and plasma insulin levels were measured using RIA method. The fasting fish showed a significant decline in the insulin levels during both the starvation periods, suggesting an effective feedback mechanism between starvation and insulin levels.