Salinity and temperature effects on whole-animal thyroid hormone levels in larval and juvenile striped bass, Morone...

Whole-animal thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) levels were measured in larval and juvenile striped bass, Morone saxatilis, reared for 10 days at one of three levels of salinity (equivalent to fresh water (FW), one-third seawater (1/3 SW), and seawater (SW) and two temperatures (15°C and 20°C). The striped bass were pre-metamorphic larvae, metamorphic larvae or juveniles. The short-term effects of seawater on plasma T4 levels of juvenile striped bass were also measured. Higher salinities increased T4 levels in premetamorphic larvae. In metamorphic larvae, SW and 1/3 SW increased T4 levels and SW increased T3 levels at 20°C. This response was eliminated in those at 15°C. Whole-animal thyroid hormone content was unaffected by salinity or temperature in juvenile striped bass, although significant fluctuations in plasma T4 levels occurred in those transferred to 1/3 SW and SW. The thyroid axis of striped bass responds to salinity and temperature as early as in the pre-metamorphic stage. Thyroid hormones may mediate the beneficial effects of salinity on larval striped bass growth and survival.