Abstract: In this experiment, we studied the effects of different temperatures on the central metabolic network flux in bow-bound carp and catfish and determined their survival time without water at the optimum temperature determined in this study. Besides, we also explored the feasibility of low temperature dormancy and waterless live fish transportation for carp and catfish. At temperatures of 0, 4, 6, 10 and 15 ℃ (gradual cooling to each of the temperatures), the metabolic fluxes in the glycolytic pathway, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway were determined in the serum of fish. The results showed that the pentose pathway flux, representing anabolism, was the highest among the central metabolic pathways for bow-bounded carp at 6 ℃ and for bow-bounded catfish at 4 ℃, while the lactate metabolism flux, representing catabolism and respiratory intensity, was the lowest which provides evidence that 6 ℃ is the optimal storage temperature and dormancy temperature for carp, and 4 ℃ for catfish. Furthermore, the survival experiment showed that the survival time of carp was 48.93 h on average and 77 h at best, while the survival time of catfish was 38.14 h on average and 70 h at best. The above results indicated the feasibility of waterless storage and transportation for live bow-bound fish. This study provides a new method and theoretical basis for inducing hibernation and sleep in fish.

Key words: carp, catfish, bow-bound fish, hibernation, lactate, metabolic flux