Effect of corticosteroids on the thymus of the fish Oryzias latipes

Morphology and development of the thymus in fish Oryzias latipes was studied in response to corticosteroids. Adult fish were subjected to different concentrations of two corticosteroids, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and cortisone acetate (CA). Histology of the thymus and thymocyte counts in treated fish were compared to normal ones. There was no change in histology of thymus due to CA treatment even those subjected to 10 mg/l water which is a lethal dose of DOCA. In contrast, the effect of DOCA at low doses (0.01 and 0.1 mg/l water) was examined and resulted in reduction of thymus volume due to depopulation of thymocytes from the entire gland. Thymus subjected to DOCA at a high dose (1 mg/l water) caused destruction of all thymocytes and reticular cells resulting in complete disappearance of the thymus. There was dose dependent mortality associated with DOCA. The maximum lethal dose was 10 mg/l causing death of all treated fish within a few hours. This information is relevant to the use of CS in fish therapy in response to stress.