Muscle cellularity in relation to somatic growth in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) |
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| Authors: | C Nathanailides O Lopez-Albors E Abellan J M Vazquez D D Tyler A Rowlerson N C Stickland |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College. University of London. Royal College Street. London NW1 OTU. UK;Dept Anatomy &Embryology. University of Murcia. 30071. Murcia. Spain;instituto Espanol de Oceanographica (IEO). Planta de Cultivor Marinos. Puerto de Mazarron, Spain, and;Department of Physiology. United Medical and Dental Schools. St Thomas's Hospital Campus. University of London. Lambeth Palace Road. London SE1 7EH, UK |
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| Abstract: | Sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), juveniles (1.32 g) grew at a rate of 4.2% per day, when fish were fed ad libitum and reared at optimal thermal conditions (ambient sea water temperature, 20-26°C). At 13°C, feeding and spontaneous activity were severely restricted and somatic growth was reduced to 0.6% per day. Over a period of 6 weeks, both muscle fibre hyperplasia and nuclear division were higher in the ambient-temperature group compared with the fish reared at 13°C. Despite the differences in growth rate and spontaneous activity, muscle fibre hyperplasia was paralleled by nuclear division in the lateral axial muscle in both temperature groups and the number of nuclei per myofibre did not differ significantly between the two temperature groups. It is concluded that at optimal thermal and feeding conditions, somatic growth of sea bass juveniles is mediated through an increase in the number of nuclei and muscle fibres. |
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