Thermal hysteresis antifreeze agents in fishes from Spitsbergen waters

Abstract

The occurrence of macromolecular antifreeze agents (so-called Thermal Hysteresis Factors) in blood plasma of fishes from Spitsbergen waters was investigated in August 1983, October 1984, and January 1986. Thermal hysteresis was found in the plasma of three species of Spitsbergen fishes: shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalw scorpiw), polar cod (Boreogadw saidu), and sea snail (Lipuris lipuris). This is the first time thermal hysteresis is reported from the sea snail. Seasonal changes in the amount of thermal hysteresis were observed in blood plasma of the shorthorn sculpin and the sea snail. With the exception of the polar cod, blood plasma of deep water fishes displays no thermal hysteresis. The reason for this is probably that the polar cod also occurs in shallow ice laden sea water, where an 'antifreeze' would be needed to protect against inoculative freezing. No thermal hysteresis was observed in blood plasma of the saithe (Pollachim virens), despite the fact that the saithe was observed swimming in ice laden sea water at a temperature of -1 to -1.5"C under natural conditions, and was rapidly killed when it came into contact with ice in the laboratory. It is not known how the saithe survives in ice laden water under natural conditions.