Salmon in hot water

Rearing juvenile salmon at the relatively high temperature of 16C causes skeletal deformities in the fish. Scientists writing in the open access journal BMC Physiology investigated both the magnitude and mechanisms of this effect, which occurs when salmon farmers use warmed water to increase fish growth rates.

Harald Takle worked with a team of scientists from NOFIMA (the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research), Norway, to carry out the studies. He said, "The data presented here indicate that both production of bone and cartilage were disrupted when promoting fast growth using elevated temperature. It is very likely that higher temperatures result in the increased rate of deformities observed in the 16C group".

The scientists reared 400 fish in 10C water and another 400 at 16C. The fish in the 16C water grew faster, but 28% were found to show some signs of skeletal deformity, in comparison to 8% of the fish reared in the cooler tank. Takle said, "Our results strongly indicate that temperature induced fast growth is severely affecting gene transcription in osteoblasts and chondrocyte bone cells, leading to a change in the tissue structure and composition".

In a second related study, fish with vertebral deformities were studied in detail. Takle said, "The deformity process involves molecular regulation and cellular changes similar to those found in mammalian intervertebral disc degeneration".


Posted by: Kelly    Source