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. 2014 Jun;18(2):79-87.
doi: 10.12717/DR.2014.18.2.079.

Morphological Analysis of Blind-Side Hypermelanosis of the Starry Flounder, Platichthys stellatus during Early Development

Duk-Young Kang  1 , Soon-Gyu Byun  2 , Jeong-In Myeong  3 , Hyo-Chan Kim  1 , Byoung-Hwa Min  3
Affiliations

Morphological Analysis of Blind-Side Hypermelanosis of the Starry Flounder, Platichthys stellatus during Early Development

Duk-Young Kang et al. Dev Reprod. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

In Pleuronectiformes, blind-side malpigmentation (hypermelanosis) is common in cultured flatfishes, and is economically important. To understand the mechanism of blind-side hypermelanosis in flatfishes, we examined when the malpigmentation initially occurred, and studied how the symptoms proceeded during early development of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus. To assess quantitative pattern changes of blind-side skin, we observed morphological development of the whole body from 22 (total length [TL] 10.0±0.2 mm and body weight [BW] 8.8±0.57 mg) to 110 days (TL 23.4±0.7 mm, BW 193.6±23.3 mg) after hatching (DAH), and also examined the malpigmented area rate of blind-side skin and the malpigmented fish ratios. The experimental animals were reared in fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks in water at a temperature of 18.9±1.9°C and salinity of 32.6±0.6 psu and were fed with rotifer and Artemia nauplii from 22 to 48 DAH, and with A. nauplii and commercial feed from 49 to 110 DAH. As results, the first staining patch seen by the naked eye was observed around the area between the anus and pelvic fin or caudal edge of the trunk at 80 DAH (TL 20.6±0.5 mm, BW 112.5±8.8 mg). The pigmented area and the pigmented fish ratios were significantly increased from 80 to 110 DAH. These results indicated that malpigmentation on the blind side of starry flounder was initially observed at about 2 cm in length and 100 mg in weight, and the pigmented domain on the blind-side skin was continually broadened by the differentiation of pigmented cells (melanophores and xanthophores) with growth.

Keywords: Blind side; Early development; Hypermelanosis; Pigment; Starry flounder..

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Features of the blind side of wild and cultured starry flounders.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Changes of water temperature and salinity during rearing experiment period.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Growth of juvenile starry flounder produced in artificial facility for 94 days after 22 DAH.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Changes of the blind side of starry flounder during early development (DAH: day after hatching).
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Ratio (%) of pigmented area in blind side of juvenile starry flounder produced in artificial facility for 94 days after 22 DAH.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Frequency ratio (%) of fishes pigmented in the blind side among juvenile starry flounder produced in artificial facility for 94 days after 22 DAH.
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