Erik Vikingstad

Three forms of GnRH in the brain and pituitary of the turbot, Scophthalmus maximus: immunological characterization and seasonal variation.

Three forms of GnRH, chicken (c) GnRH-II, salmon (s) and seabream (sb) GnRH, were immunologically characterized in the brain and pituitary of turbot by ELISA. cGnRH-II and sGnRH were detected in the brain, while sbGnRH and sGnRH (but not cGnRH-II) were detected in the pituitary. In females, the levels of cGnRH-II in the turbot brain extracts increased from May to July, concomitant with an increase in oocyte diameter. In the pituitary, sbGnRH was found to be the dominant form, with levels 100-600-fold those of sGnRH. Both sGnRH and sbGnRH in the pituitary showed variation during the spawning season; sbGnRH increased from May to July and correlated with the increase in oocyte diameter, while sGnRH decreased. The overall patterns were the same for male turbot, although levels were generally lower. These findings suggest that sbGnRH could be controlling reproduction in the turbot. However, the seasonal variation in sGnRH indicates a potential physiological role in turbot reproduction. This study gives the first immunological indications that sbGnRH is present in the pituitary of a pleuronectiform fish, and will provide the basis for further studies on the endocrine regulation of reproduction in flatfish.

Effects of photoperiod, temperature and GnRHa treatment on the reproductive physiology of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) broodstock

The present study demonstrates that acceleratedphotoperiod advances ovulation in Atlantic salmon, and that exposure to cold water prior to spawning further advances and synchronizes this process while improving egg-survival. High water temperature inhibited both sperm release and ovulation, whereas a GnRHa treatment overrode this temperature effect in most individuals. A decrease in water temperature seemed to accelerate both ovulation and sperm release, and water temperature modulated the plasma 17,20βP profiles around ovulation and sperm release. The GnRHa treatment markedly increased the volume of strippable milt and the plasma 17,20βP levels in males.

Notes on the behaviour of lumpfish in sea pens with and without Atlantic salmon present

Abstract The behaviour of lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus L., in sea pens, with and without Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., present, was assessed by underwater camera technology. Behaviour was classified by recording the principal activity of individual fish for 30-s intervals. The majority of daylight time was spent actively foraging for food. Antagonistic behaviour between Atlantic salmon and lumpfish was not observed during the whole experimental period and no mortality was seen in either species. Cleaning behaviour, but at low frequency, was observed as lumpfish cleaned sea lice off Atlantic salmon. Significantly lower sea lice infection levels were seen on Atlantic salmon when reared together with lumpfish compared to the control group without lumpfish. Feeding behaviour can be classified as strongly opportunistic.

Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations and growth in juvenile halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus): Effects of photoperiods and feeding regimes

The effects of photoperiod and feeding regimes on plasma IGF-I levels and their relationship with growth rate of juvenile halibut (initial mean weight 364 g) were investigated by rearing fish under five different photoperiod regimes and two feeding regimes for 14 months. The entire photoperiod experiment was divided into 3 phases where the fish in each phase were exposed to either natural photoperiod (N), stimulated photoperiod with long day and short night (S) or continuous light (L). Thus, the following five photoperiod combinations were tested: a) Control group (NNN) b) Group 2A (NLN) c) Group 2B (NNL) d) Long day-natural group (SNN) e) Production group (LNN). In addition, the Control group was split into two parts and fed according to two different feeding regimes: a) Continuous fed group: Fish fed every day. b) Starvation/re-fed group: Fish were starved for 5 weeks and then re-fed for 10 weeks, and the treatment repeated during the whole experimental period. The analyses of IGF-I were performed from individually tagged fish in all groups in September 2005 and March 2006. In order to test how rapidly starvation affects circulating IGF-I levels samples were taken from the Starvation/re-fed group after a 10 days starvation (September) and immediately after 10 weeks of feeding (March). A significant relationship between IGF-I levels and individual growth in the preceding period and photoperiod and starvation treatment was found on both occasions. In conclusion, the present study indicates that plasma IGF-I levels are correlated to growth in Atlantic halibut, and affected by photoperiod treatment or compensatory growth during re-feeding. Correlation between individual growth rate and IGF-I levels was low, but significant, highlighting the complexity of how environmental factors affect the endocrine and physiological regulation of growth in fish.