Influence of plasma lipid changes in response to 17 beta-oestradiol stimulation on plasma growth hormone, somatostatin, and thyroid hormone levels in immature rainbow trout

Plasma total lipids were significantly higher in 17β-oestradiol(E2)-treated immature rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss at week 4 after implantation, due to increases in polar and neutral lipids. The lipid classes responding were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sterols and sterol esters, in a proportion that approximately reflected the increase in plasma vitellogenin (VtG) levels as measured by a non-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma non-esterified fatty acids and triacylglycerol were not affected by E2 treatment. Plasma growth hormone GH levels were increased, and plasma somatostatin-14 (SRIF) levels decreased in E2-treated fish, responses which could be secondary to elevated plasma lipid (VtG) content, although a direct E2 action on somatotroph function is possible. Plasma T4 concentrations were not affected by E2 treatment, but plasma T3 concentrations were significantly lower than in controls 1 week after implantation when plasma E2 concentrations were the highest; this is in support of the hypothesis that E2 has a suppressive action on T3 production

Screening For Lipids From Marine Microalgae Using Nile Red

The fluorescent stain Nile Red has been used extensively for the quantification of lipids in phytoplankton, including microalgae, because it preferentially stains neutral lipids and it is economical and sensitive to use for screening purposes. Although its basic application has not changed for several decades, recent improvements have been made to improve its utility across applications. Here we describe additional refinements in its application and interpretation as a high-throughput method for the rapid quantification of neutral lipids in liquid cultures of marine phytoplankton. Specifically we address (1) interspecies comparisons, (2) fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths, and (3) the time course of the Nile Red signal in the context of using bulk or cell-specific fluorescence to quantify neutral lipids of live or preserved cells. We show that with proper caution in its interpretation across species and physiological states the quantity of lipid in hundreds of small volume samples can be reliably assessed daily using a refined Nile Red protocol