Abstract
The status of whole body cortisol and total protein content in eggs, embryos and larvae of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) was investigated. After induced spawning, unfertilized and fertilized eggs were sampled and sampling was continued at an interval of two h up to 48 h of post fertilization. Unfertilized and fertilized eggs contained high level of whole body cortisol that decreased sharply and reached to significantly lower value after 2 h of post fertilization (hpf) and remained almost constant up to 8 -12 hpf. Later, it increased gradually and reached to peak value at 48 hpf. The total whole body protein content showed fluctuation during the development, higher content in fertilized and unfertilized eggs, decreased significantly after 2 hpf and remained low up to 6 hpf. At 8 hpf, the total protein content increased significantly and showed increasing trend up to 18 hpf, then sharply declined up to 48 hpf. The presence of cortisol and protein content in fertilized and unfertilized eggs confirm the view that they are maternal in origin, while higher concentration of cortisol in eggs may be due to inadequate handling of broodfish. (c) 2013 Friends Science Publishers