Investigation of Cartilage Development of Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) Larvae at 22 ° C by Double Staining Technique

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 7 - 12, 28.03.2025

Şükrü Hakan Atalgın , Mustafa Korkmaz , Burak Yilmaz

Abstract

Objective: The normal cartilage development of the caudal fin system in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) larvae under intensive aquaculture conditions was investigated up to day 20. Approximately 400 Sparus aurata larvae were used to determine the development.
Material-Method: The materials were stained with Alcian Blue for cartilage staining and Alizarin Red for bone staining. 300 mg alcian blue and 100 ml 70% ethanol solution were mixed with 100 mg alizarin red and 100 mg 95% ethanol solution. A solution was prepared by adding 100 ml of glycial acetic acid and 1700 ml of 70% ethanol to this mixture. The larvae were kept in this solution in the oven at the appropriate temperature for 4 days and washed in running water for 2 hours after being removed from the oven. The prepared specimens were examined under stereo microscope.
Result: It was observed that the cartilage formation in the caudal fin of the larvae started at 13 days of age. In 13-day-old larvae, hy 1 was measured as 0 035 mm on average. At 20 days of age, hy 1, hy2, hy3, hy4, hp and hs were detected and measured. Hy 1 and hy4 were found to be quite thickened. When the development of the skeletal system was examined, no ossification was observed in 20-day-old material. This study was carried out because of the increasing incidence of skeletal malformations, especially those related to the columna vertebralis, in bream farming and because the cause and progression of such skeletal malformations are uncertain and there are very few studies on the cartilage-osteological development. In this study, the development up to 20 days was analysed since cartilage development was especially considered.
Conclusion: The results of skeletal development in gilthead sea bream (Sparta aurata) larvae were compared with previously reported results in other fishes and showed similarities with many species.

Keywords

Larval rearing, cartilaginous development, caudal fin, Sparus aurata.

References

• Barahona‐Fernandes MH. Body deformation in hatchery reared European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L). Types, prevalence and effect on fish survival. J Fish Biol. 1982; 21(3):239-249.
• Boglione C, Marino G, Bertolini B, Rossi A, Ferreri F, Cataudella S. Larval and postlarval monitoring in sea bass: morphological approach to evaluate finfish seed quality. Special Publication European Aquaculture Society. 1993.
• Bolla S, Holmefjord I. Effect of temperature and light on development of Atlantic halibut larvae. Aquac. 1988; 74(3-4):355-358.
• Çoban D, Suzer C, Kamacı HO, Saka Ş, Fırat K. Early osteological development of the fins in the hatchery-reared red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (L. 1758). J Appl Ichthyol. 2009; 25:26-39.
• Daoulas C, Economou AN, Bantavas I. Osteological abnormalities in laboratory reared sea-bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fingerlings. Aquac. 1991; 97(2-3):169-180.
• Divanach P, Boglione C, Menu B, Koumoundouros G, Kentouri M, Cataudella S. Abnormalities in finfish mariculture: an overview of the problem, causes and solutions. In: Chatain B, Saroglia M, Sweetman J, Lavens P, eEds. Publishing Country: Publisher. Publishing year. pp.45-66.
• Divanach P, Papandroulakis N, Anastasiadis P, Koumoundouros G, Kentouri M. Effect of water currents during postlarval and nursery phase on the development of skeletal deformities in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) with functional swimbladder. Aquac. 1997; 156:145-155.
• Faustino M, Power DM. Development of osteological structures in the sea bream: vertebral column and caudal fin complex. J Fish Biol. 1998; 52:11-22.
• Faustino M, Power DM. Development of the pectoral, pelvic, dorsal and anal fins in cultured sea bream. J Fish Biol. 1999; 54:1094-1110.
• Favaloro E, Lopano L, Mazzola A. Rearing of sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) in a Mediterranean fish farm: monoculture versus polyculture. Aqua Res. 2002; 33:137-140.
• Koumoundouros G, Divanach P, Kentouri M. Osteological development of the vertebral column and of the caudal complex in Dentex dentex. J Fish Biol. 1999; 54:424-436.
• Koumoundouros G, Divanach P, Kentouri M. Development of the skull in Dentex dentex (Osteichthyes Sparidae). Mar Biol. 2000; 136:175-184.
• Koumoundouros G, Divanach P, Kentouri M. Osteological development of Dentex dentex (Osteichthyes, Sparidae): dorsal, anal, paired fins and squamation. Mar Biol. 2001b; 138:399-406.
• Koumoundouros G, Gagliardi F, Divanach P, Boglione C, Cataudella S, Kentouri M. Normal and abnormal osteological development of caudal fin in Sparus aurata L. fry. Aquac. 1997; 149:215-226.
• Koumoundouros G, Sfakianakis DG, Maingot E, Divanach P, Kentouri M. Osteological development of the vertebral column and of the fins in Diplodus sargus (Teleostei: Perciformes: Sparidae). Mar Biol. 2001a; 139:853-862.
• Marino G, Boglione C, Bertolini B, Rossi A, Ferreri F, Cataudella S. Observations on development and anomalies in the appendicular skeleton of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L. 1758, larvae and juveniles. Aqua Res. 1993; 24(3):445-456.
• Matsuoka M. Osteological development in the red sea bream, Pagrus major. Jap J Ichthyol. 1985; 32:35-51.
• Micale V, Maricchiolo G, Genovese L. The reproductive biology of blackspot sea bream Pagellus bogaraveo in captivity. I. gonadal development, maturation and hermaphroditism. J Appl Ichthyol. 2002; 18:172-176.
• Paperna I. Swimbladder and skeletal deformations in hatchery bred Spams aurata. J Fish Biol. 1978; 12(2):109-114.
• Sfakianakis DG, Koumoundouros G, Divanach P, Kentouri M. Osteological development of the vertebral column and the fins in Pagellus erythrinus (L. 1758). Temperature effect on developmental plasticity and morpho-anatomical abnormalities. Aquac. 2004; 232:407-424.
• Suzer C, Kamaci HO, Çoban D, Saka Ş, Fırat K, Özkara B, Özkara A. Digestive enzyme activities in larvae of sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo). Comp Biochem Physiol A. 2007; 148:470-477.
• Wiegand MD, Hataley JM, Kitchen CL, Buchanan, LG. Induction of developmental abnormalities in larval goldfish, Carassius auratus L., under cool incubation conditions. J. Fish Biol. 1989; 35(1), 85-95.