Influence of all-trans retinoic acid on pigmentation and skeletal formation in larval Japanese flounder

Abstract

The effect of all‐trans retinoic acid (atRA) on pigmentation and skeletal formation of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus was investigated. Five groups of flounder larvae were fed live food enriched with 0.5 mL docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 38G oil containing 10 mg of atRA/10 L of culture medium during different developmental stages; that is, A–B, C–D, E–F, G–H, and I. The control group was fed live food enriched with only DHA 38G oil. Flounder that were fed live food enriched with atRA during the A–B stages showed albinism, and mandible and severe caudal defects (albinism 75.7%, lower jaw defects 75%, caudal defects 100%). Occurrence of these abnormalities in other groups was 0%, 1–4%, and 4.5–10.7%, respectively. Administration of atRA during the A–B stages also caused a high number of vertebrae mainly in the caudal area. Moreover, additional abdominal vertebrae had formed in 25% of fish that were fed live food enriched with atRA in the A–B stages. These results indicate that the effect of atRA is dependent on the developmental stage of flounder larvae and they also suggest that morphological and color abnormalities in flounder were induced by atRA accumulated in live food (rotifers 13 mg/g; Artemia 1.6 mg/g), especially during the A–B stages.

Vitamin A Affects Flatfish Development in a Thyroid Hormone Signaling and Metamorphic Stage Dependent Manner

“…Present results are in agreement with the notion of the earlier the VA imbalance the higher the effect (Haga et al, 2002; Villeneuve et al, 2006). Most importantly, a different degree of mineralization in particular structures was also observed depending on the dietary VA dose supplied and the developmental period considered.…”

Progress on larval and juvenile nutrition to improve the quality and health of seawater fish: a review

“…Flounder larvae fed retinoic acid-enriched Artemia for stages E-H showed a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of vertebral anomalies [55], while larvae fed retinoic acid-enriched rotifer for stages A-B developed pseudoalbinism and malformed caudal fins and vertebrae [56]. More clear-cut results on the effects of retinoic enrichment were obtained when premetamorphic flounder larvae (stages E-F) were immersed in water containing 10 or 25 nM retinoic acid: the larvae developed melanism (with a reduced incidence of albinism) and malformed fin rays [57].…”

Effect of cultivation methods on nutritional enrichment of euryhaline rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

“…Moreover, although this study focused on fatty acid content, it is possible that other kinds of nutrients show the same trend, e.g., protein or vitamins. If finfish larvae obtain excess amount of vitamin A through rotifers, they will have some malformation [13,46]. The introduction of the continuous culture makes it possible to reduce cost and labor.…”