Parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon: Thyroid hormone deiodination in liver and brain and endocrine correlates of change in rheotactic behavior
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-2000
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that metabolism of thyroid hormones by the brain of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) changes when rheotactic behavior reverses during parr-smolt transformation (PST). We measured brain and liver thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) outer-ring deiodination (ORD) and inner-ring deiodination (IRD) activities and plasma T4 and T3 levels in Atlantic salmon held under natural photoperiod in fresh water at 10°C in the spring of 1993 and 1994. We also measured changes in T4, T4, and cortisol levels during the change in rheotactic behavior. Condition factor decreased while salinity tolerance improved from mid-March to late April. The turbidity-induced transition from upstream to downstream swimming occurred in mid to late April. The main changes in brain deiodination were reduced T3IRD (1993 study) and elevated T4ORD (1994 study). In both years, a high ratio of T4ORD/T3IRD activities in the brain indicated an increased potential for T3 production in the brain during advanced PST. Liver deiodination profiles differed between years, but during advanced PST the low T4ORD activity and low T4ORD/T3IRD activity ratio suggested a low potential for hepatic, and hence systemic, T3 production. However, plasma T4 was increased in downstream swimmers at 1 d (1993) and 4 h (1994) after the turbidity increase. Since at this time brain deiodination pathways were poised towards T3 production, the surge in plasma T4 would likely increase local T3 formation in brain. We conclude that during PST there is no major change in hepatic deiodination and hence probably no major change in systemic T3 availability. But deiodination properties in brain during late PST indicate the potential for local T3 formation. This may be significant when plasma T4 increases at the time of downstream migration.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Volume
78
Issue
5
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Specker, Jennifer L., J. G. Eales, Masatomo Tagawa, and William A. Tyler. "Parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon: Thyroid hormone deiodination in liver and brain and endocrine correlates of change in rheotactic behavior." Canadian Journal of Zoology 78, 5 (2000). doi: 10.1139/z99-258.