Unveiling the hidden effects of hypoxia: Pituitary damage and hormonal imbalance in fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii)

In fisheries, hypoxia stress is one of the most common environmental stresses that often lead to the death of large numbers of fish and cause significant economic losses. The pituitary, an important endocrine gland, lies below the hypothalamus region of the brain. It plays a crucial part in controlling vital physiological functions in fish, such as growth, reproduction, and responses to stress. However, the detailed mechanisms of how hypoxia affects these physiological processes via the pituitary remain largely unknown.