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Optical quality changes of the ocular lens during induced parr-to-smolt metamorphosis in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Ocular lens optical quality during induced salmonid metamorphosis

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Abstract

The effect of an induced salmonid parr-to-smolt metamorphosis (‘smoltification’) on the optical quality of the ocular lens was studied. In two separate experiments, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) parr were fed thyroxine in their diet to induce the metamorphosis. Lenses were excised at regular samplings during the treatment period and optically scanned using a custom scanning laser monitor. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure serum titers of thyroxine and 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine. It was found that lens optical quality was consistently negatively correlated with 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine levels, but not with thyroxine levels. To test if thyroid hormones are directly responsible for the change in optical quality, rainbow trout lenses were cultured for 72 h in a medium containing 3,5,3′-triiodo-L-thyronine, but no effect was observed. The significance of these findings in the contexts of the fishes’ visual capabilities and smolting physiology is discussed.

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Abbreviations

BVD:

Back vertex distance

RIA:

Radioimmunoassay

SLM:

Scanning laser monitor

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Acknowledgements

We kindly thank Vladimir Bantseev, Nancy Gibson, Robin Jones, Kelley Moran and Martin Ryan of the University of Waterloo for their practical insights and technical support during the course of this research. Special thanks are offered to Drs. Munehico Iwata and Geoff Eales for methodological assistance. We would finally like to thank two anonymous reviewers for raising points which allowed us to improve the manuscript. This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. These experiments comply with the ”Principles of animal care“, publication no. 86–23, revised 1985 of the National Institute of Health, and also with the current laws of Canada.

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  1. Kevin L. H. van Doorn

    Present address: , 2220 County Rd 10 (RR 1), St-Eugene, ON, K0B 1P0, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Kevin L. H. van Doorn & J. G. Sivak

  2. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Kevin L. H. van Doorn, J. G. Sivak & M. M. Vijayan

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  1. Kevin L. H. van Doorn
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Correspondence to Kevin L. H. van Doorn.

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van Doorn, K.L.H., Sivak, J.G. & Vijayan, M.M. Optical quality changes of the ocular lens during induced parr-to-smolt metamorphosis in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J Comp Physiol A 191, 649–657 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-005-0615-y

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