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Effects of different light conditions on the retinal microstructure and ultrastructure of Dicentrarchus labrax larvae

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Abstract

Light is a key environmental parameter known to influence fish throughout various stages of their life, from embryonic development to sexually mature adults. In a recent study, the effects of different light conditions on the growth of Dicentrarchus labrax larvae were investigated using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source. Here, pathological examinations were carried out to assess whether variations in light affected the visual system of the larvae, including any negative impacts on the retina or the growth rate. Although light did not affect the total thickness (TT) of the retina, the thickness of the retinal pigment epithelium layer (PRE), photoreceptor layer (PRos/is), outer nuclear layer (ONL), and inner nuclear layer (INL), and the PRE/TT and ONL/TT ratios were all significantly higher in larvae exposed to blue light than in larvae exposed to white light. Additionally, the thickness of PRE and the outer nuclear layer and the RPE/TT and ONL/TT ratios of larvae exposed to 2.0 W m−2 were significantly lower than in larvae exposed to 0.3 W m−2. By contrast, the INL/TT ratio in larvae exposed to 2.0 W m−2 was significantly higher than in larvae exposed to 0.3 W m−2. Additionally, the INL and ganglion cell layer nuclei density of larvae exposed to 2.0 W m−2 were significantly higher than in those exposed to 0.3 W m−2 (p < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy revealed different levels of abnormalities in the photoreceptor layers in all treatment groups. Considering the growth of the larvae, the results of the study suggest that continuous LED exposure induced damage to photoreceptor cells but was not relevant to the growth performance of D. labrax larvae. Moreover, the results obtained here also support the high plasticity of retinal development in response to altered environmental light conditions.

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFB0404000).

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  1. Hongwei Yan and Qi Liu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Fisheries and life Science, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China

    Hongwei Yan, Xufang Shen, Xin Cui & Zhen Yuan

  2. College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, No. 52 Heishijiao Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116023, China

    Qi Liu, Wenlei Liu, Pengfei Hu, Lei Zhang & Ying Liu

  3. Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.35, Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 10083, China

    Changbin Song & Lili Liu

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  1. Hongwei Yan
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Yan, H., Liu, Q., Shen, X. et al. Effects of different light conditions on the retinal microstructure and ultrastructure of Dicentrarchus labrax larvae. Fish Physiol Biochem 46, 613–628 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-019-00735-1

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