Atlantic halibut is an important commercial fish in the countries of the North Atlantic and is emerging as a promising species for marine cold-water aquaculture. The axial musculature of the developing larvae is the largest and most rapidly growing tissue and during the transition from larval to adult muscle fibre types significant changes in fibre morphology and gene transcription occur. In fact the change in myotome height correlates well with different larval halibut stages. In the present study the spatial and temporal expression of myosin light chain 1 (MLC1), 2 (MLC2) and 3 (MLC3) was studied in metamorphosing halibut by in situ hybridization. As a first step to establishing a role for the thyroid axis in halibut muscle development whole body thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations were also determined. In first feeding larvae MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 transcripts had a similar distribution and were confined to the muscle fibres of the germinal zones. In pre-metamorphic larvae transcripts were highly expressed throughout the epaxial and hypaxial musculature and expression levels reached a maximum in larvae starting metamorphosis, this change coincided with a significant increase in the concentration of thyroid hormones. By the time larvae reached the metamorphic climax, MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 expression was still high throughout the musculature but expression was confined to fibres adjacent to the myosepts and to small cells scattered in the musculature, possibly satellite cells. MLC2A was also expressed in the red muscle fibres; no transition between larval and adult MLC isoforms was detected.This work was funded by European Union project CT 96-1442, ARRDE-Q5Rs-2002-01192 and Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology – Pluriannual funding to CCMAR. We thank Heiddis Smáradóttir, (Fiskey, Iceland) for providing the animal samples

Baptista, Vitor M.

Power, Deborah

Silva, Nadia

Universidade do Algarve

Arch. Tierz., Dummerstorf 49 (2006) Special Issue, 97-101 
Comparative and Molecular Endocrinology Group, CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal  
NÁDIA SILVA, VITOR M. BAPTISTA and DEBORAH M. POWER  
Expression patterns of MLC isoforms during halibut (Hippoglossus 
hippoglossus L.) metamorphosis 
Abstract 
Atlantic halibut is an important commercial fish in the countries of the North Atlantic and is emerging as a 
promising species for marine cold-water aquaculture. The axial musculature of the developing larvae is the 
largest and most rapidly growing tissue and during the transition from larval to adult muscle fibre types 
significant changes in fibre morphology and gene transcription occur. In fact the change in myotome height 
correlates well with different larval halibut stages. In the present study the spatial and temporal expression of 
myosin light chain 1 (MLC1), 2 (MLC2) and 3 (MLC3) was studied in metamorphosing halibut by in situ 
hybridization. As a first step to establishing a role for the thyroid axis in halibut muscle development whole body 
thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations were also determined. In first feeding larvae MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 
transcripts had a similar distribution and were confined to the muscle fibres of the germinal zones. In pre-
metamorphic larvae transcripts were highly expressed throughout the epaxial and hypaxial musculature and 
expression levels reached a maximum in larvae starting metamorphosis, this change coincided with a significant 
increase in the concentration of thyroid hormones. By the time larvae reached the metamorphic climax, MLC1, 
MLC2A and MLC3 expression was still high throughout the musculature but expression was confined to fibres 
adjacent to the myosepts and to small cells scattered in the musculature, possibly satellite cells. MLC2A was 
also expressed in the red muscle fibres; no transition between larval and adult MLC isoforms was detected. 
 
Key Words: Flatfish, in situ localisation, muscle development, thyroid hormones 
 
 
Zusammenfassung 
Titel der Arbeit: Expressionsmuster von MLC Isoformen während der Metamorphose beim Heilbutt 
(Hippoglossus hippoglosus) 
Der Atlantikheilbutt ist ein kommerziell wichtiger Fisch für Länder des Nordatlantiks und entwickelt sich zu 
einer viel versprechenden Spezies für die Aquakultur. Die axiale Muskulatur sich entwickelnder Larven stellt das 
größte und am stärksten wachsende Gewebe dar. Während der Transformation von den larvalen zu adulten 
Muskelfasertypen treten signifikante Änderungen der Fasermorphologie und der Genexpression auf. Die 
Myotomgröße korreliert gut mit verschiedenen Stadien der Heilbuttlarven. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung 
wurde die lokale und temporale Expression der Gene der leichten Myosinketten 1, 2 und 3 (MLC1, MLC2, 
MLC3) während der Metamorphose mittels in situ Hybridisierung dargestellt. Als erster Schritt um die Rolle der 
Schilddrüsenhormon-Achse in der Muskelentwicklung des Heilbutts zu beleuchten, wurden auch die 
Gesamtkörpergehalte an Schilddrüsenhormonen  (TH) bestimmt. Im frühen Larvenstadium (Stadium 5) haben 
MLC1, MLC2A und MLC3 Transkripte eine ähnliche Verteilung und sind auf Muskelfasern der Keimzonen 
begrenzt. In prä-metamorphen Larven werden hohe Transkriptionsraten in der epaxialen und hypaxialen 
Muskulatur gefunden. Die Expression erreicht ein Maximum in den Larven zu Beginn der Metamorphose; 
gleichzeitig tritt eine signifikante Zunahme der Konzentration der Schilddrüsenhormone auf. Bis Larven den 
metamorphen Höhepunkt erreichen, ist die Expression von MLC1, MLC2A und MLC3 in der Muskulatur hoch, 
aber die Expression ist begrenzt auf  Fasern nahe den Myosepten und auf kleine Zellen, die in der Muskulatur 
verstreut sind, vielleicht Satellitenzellen. MLC“A wird auch in den roten Muskelfasern exprimiert; kein 
Umschalten von larvalen zu adulten MLC Isoformen wird beobachtet. 
 
Schlüsselwörter: Plattfisch, in situ Lokalisation, Muskelentwicklung, Schilddrüsenhormone 
 
 
Introduction 
The importance of the thyroid hormones (THs); thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine 
(T3), in vertebrate development is well established (POWER et al., 2001). In fish, THs 
are involved in the transition of larvae to juveniles, the most dramatic manifestation of 
which is flatfish metamorphosis. TH treatment stimulates flatfish metamorphosis and 
the transformation from larvae to juvenile of a variety of teleost species although the 
mechanism by which it acts still remains to be clearly established (DE JESUS et al., 
 98
1998; SOLBAKKEN et al., 1999). In developing fish larvae the axial musculature is 
the largest and most rapidly growing tissue and the transition from larval to adult 
muscle fibre types occurs gradually but appears to accompany metamorphosis raising 
questions about the role of THs. In fact THs have been associated with the 
developmental transition of myosin isoforms during flounder metamorphosis 
(KEIKUZE et al., 1993). The functional unit of myosin in vertebrate adult fast skeletal 
muscle is composed of two heavy chains and four associated light chains; two 
regulatory myosin light chains (MLC2) and two alkali light chains (MLC1 and MLC3) 
(THIÉBAUD et al., 2001). In the present study, the ontogeny and distribution of 
regulatory and alkali light chain myosin was studied using in situ hybridization and 
related to whole body TH concentrations and thyroid histology. 
 
 
Material and methods 
The Atlantic halibut larvae, used in this study, were raised at Fiskey, Iceland. Larval 
rearing was carried out using standard commercial production routines. The larvae 
were reared at 10-11 ºC, under constant light conditions (24L) and fed live artemia. 
and were sampled at regular intervals from the age of 260 D° through to the end of 
metamorphosis 800ºD.  The T4 and T3 content of whole larvae were assessed by 
radioimmunoassay (RIA) of larval extracts. Frozen larvae were extracted in methanol, 
reextracted in 50µl methanol, 200µl chloroform and 100µl barbital buffer, centrifuged 
(3,000 rpm for 30 min at 4oC). Then, the upper phase removed, lyophilized, 
reconstituted in assay buffer and assayed. Assays for both T3 and T4 were performed 
using a double-antibody method under equilibrium conditions. Free hormone was 
separated from the bound hormone using precipitation with a second antibody. Larvae 
for histology and in situ hybridization were fixed in paraformaldehyde (PFA, 4%) 
overnight at 4oC, decalcified in EDTA pH 8 when necessary, embedded in low melting 
point paraffin and sagittal and transverse section prepared and mounted on APES 
treated glass slides. In order to study thyroid gland development, sectioned larvae were 
stained using the Cleveland-Wolfe trichrome method, after dewaxing and rehydrating 
the sectioned material. Digoxygenin-labelled riboprobes for MLC1, MLC2A and 
MLC3 were prepared by in vitro transcription of plasmid DNA containing PCR 
fragments encoding halibut MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3. Riboprobe synthesis was 
carried out using linearized DNA, 20U of the appropriate RNA Polymerase in 
transcription buffer (Promega, USA) with 1µl of Digoxygenin-RNA labeling mix 
(Roche Diagnostics, Germany). Hybridization was carried out overnight at 58ºC using 
2 µg µl-1 of riboprobe in hybridization solution (50% formamide, 4xSSC, 0.1% torula 
RNA, 0.01% Heparin, 1× Denhart’s, 0.1% Tween 20, 0.04% CHAPS). To remove 
non-specifically bound probe, high stringency washes were carried out. Detection of 
hybridized probe was done using anti-digoxigenin-AP Fab fragments (1:600, Roche 
Diagnostics) and colour detection was carried out using as substrate the chromagens 
NBT and BCIP. Control experiments were performed by treating samples with RNase 
prior to hybridization and/or by omitting riboprobe from the reaction. Sections were 
analyzed using a microscope (Olympus BH2) coupled to a digital camera (Olympus 
DP11). 
 
 99
Results 
Histological studies of the thyroid gland indicate that its activity appears to accompany 
the change in concentration of whole body THs measured by RIA which accompanies 
halibut development. In first feeding larvae (Fig. 1A) thyroid follicles are visible in the 
loose connective tissue of the pharynx at the insertion of the gill bars, they are 
infrequent, small and composed of a flattened unicellular epithelial cell layer 
surrounding a colloid-filled center. In halibut larvae following the yolk-sack period, 
vesicles are evident in the periphery of the colloid, and instances are found where the 
colloid is absent from follicles, suggesting increased thyroid activity. Furthermore, the 
number and size of thyroid follicles and their apparent activity continually increases 
until the start of metamorphosis (Fig. 1B) when follicles are numerous of a large 
diameter and frequently lack colloid, indicative of high thyroid activity. After the 
climax of metamorphosis thyroid follicles are still abundant but are less active. The 
variation in the concentration of T3 and T4 measured by RIA of whole halibut larval 
extracts accompanies the activity cycle of the thyroid follicles. Prior to metamorphosis 
T4 (2 pg mg-1 wet weight, n=6) and T3 (0.5pg mg-1 wet weight, n=6) is fairly constant. 
Larval T4 (6 pg mg-1 wet tissue) and T3 (2 pg mg-1 wet tissue) content peaks at 610 D° 
just around the start of metamorphosis. After this, the T4 and T3 content of larvae 
declines. 
 
 
 
Fig. 1: Cleveland-Wolfe trichrome staining of sagital sections of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) 
larvae showing the development of thyroid follicles (arrowheads). (A) first feeding (stage 5); (B) start of 
metamorphosis (stage 8); colloid, c; epithelial cell layer, e; follicles lacking colloid, ∗. Scale bars indicates 20µm 
(Färbung nach Cleveland-Wolfe: Entwicklung der Schilddrüsenfollikel in Sagitalschnitten von Heilbuttlarven 
(Hippoglossus hippoglossus) (Pfeilspitzen). (A) frühes Stadium (Stadium 5); (B) Start der Metamorphose 
(Stadium 8); Kolloid c; epitheliale Zellschicht, e; Follikel ohne Kolloid, *. Maßstab 20 µm) 
 
At first feeding (Fig. 2 A) MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 are expressed and have a 
similar pattern of distribution, with the hybridization signal being most intense at the 
periphery, of the dorsal and ventral areas where the germinal zones occur (Fig. 2 A’). 
The expression levels reached a maximum in white muscle at the beginning of 
metamorphosis (Fig. 2 B, B’) and all three transcripts are highly expressed throughout 
the epaxial and hypaxial musculature. By the time larvae reached the metamorphic 
climax (Fig. 2 C), MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 expression is still high but expression is 
confined to fibres adjacent to the myosepts and to small cells scattered in the white 
 100
muscle. MLC2A is also expressed in the red muscle fibres. A provisional analysis of 
MLC expression by RT-PCR revealed that there is a gradual increase in the expression 
up until stage 9 after which it declines. Moreover, there did not appear to be a 
transition in MLC isoforms during the larval to juvenile transition. 
 
 
 
Fig. 2: Determination of temporal and spatial expression of, MLC2a by means of in situ hybridization with DIG 
labeled riboprobe in halibut larvae sections. (A) Stage 5, arrow indicates germinal zones; (A’) detail of the 
germinal zone in (A); (B) stage 8;  (B’) detail of (B); (C) stage 10, arrow indicates fibers staining adjacent to the 
myosept; arrowheads indicate positive staining cells; RM, red muscle fibers. Scale bars indicates 200µm 
(Darstellung der temporalen und lokalen Expression von MLC2a mittels in situ Hybridisierung mit DIG-
markierten Riboproben in Schnitten von Heilbuttlarven. (A) Stadium 5, Pfeile zeigen Keimzonen; (A´) Details 
der Keimzonen aus (A); (B) Stadium 8; (B´) Detail von (B); (C) Stadium10, Pfeil deutet auf Fasern nahe der 
Myosepten; Pfeilspitzen zeigen positive gefärbte Zellen; RM, rote Muskelfasern, Maßstab 200µm) 
 
 
 
Discussion 
Associated with the radical change in the volume and organisation of axial muscle 
which occurs during fish larval development there is a shift in the distribution of 
myosin isoforms expressed. The ontogeny of thyroid tissue development and activity 
coincides with the change in muscle which accompanies metamorphosis. The present 
observations are consistent with the notion that the change in MLC gene expression 
may be driven by thyroid hormones. Further work will be required to establish if THs 
act directly or indirectly on gene encoding muscle proteins to change in musculature 
during metamorphosis. The functional consequence for growth and survival of the 
changes in musculature which accompany development and metamorphosis requires 
much more study. As muscle is of key importance for aquaculture production, it will 
be of importance to establish a better understanding of how muscle development is 
regulated by hormones. 
 
 
 
Acknowledgements 
This work was funded by European Union project CT 96-1442, ARRDE-Q5Rs-2002-
01192 and Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology – Pluriannual funding to 
CCMAR. We thank Heiddis Smáradóttir, (Fiskey, Iceland) for providing the animal 
samples. 
 
 101
References 
BANDMAN, E.; ROSSER, B.W.C.: 
Evolutionary significance of myosin heavy chain heterogeneity in birds. Microscopy Research and 
Technique 50 (2000), 473-491 
BASS, J.J.; SHARMA, M.; OLDHAM, J.; KAMBADUR, R.:  
Muscle growth and genetic regulation. In: Ruminant Physiology: Digestion, Metabolism, Growth & 
Reproduction (PB CRONJE, Ed) CABI Publishing (2000), 227-236 
DE JESUS, E.G.T; TOLEDO, J.D.; SIMPAS, M.S.: 
Thyroid hormones promote early metamorphosis in grouper (Epinephelus coioides) larvae. Gen. Comp. 
Endocrinol. 112 (1998) 1, 10-16 
KEIKUZE, Y., TAKANO-OHMURO H., OBINATA T., INUI Y.: 
Effect of Thyroid hormone on developmental transition of myosin light chains during flounder 
metamorphosis. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 93 (1994), 321-326 
POWER, D.M.; LLEWELLYN, L.; FAUSTINO, M.; NOWELL, M.A.; BJORNSSON, B.T.; EINARSDOTTIR, 
I.E.; CANÁRIO, A.V.M.; SWEENEY, G.E.: 
Thyroid hormones in growth and development of fish. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C-Toxicol. Pharmacol. 
130 (2001) 4, 447-459 
SOLBAKKEN, J.S.; NORBERG, B.; WATANABE, K.; PITTMAN, K.: 
Thyroxine as a mediator of metamorphosis of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus.   
Environmental Biology of Fishes 56 (1999) 1-2, 53-65 
THIÉBAUD, P.; RESCAN, P.Y.; BARILLOT, W.; RALLIÈRE, C.; THÉZE, N.:  
Developmental program expression of myosin alkali light chain and skeletal genes in the rainbow trout 
Oncorhynchus mykiss. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1519 (2001), 139-142 
 
 
 
Corresponding Author 
DEBORAH M. POWER 
  CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve 
  Campus Gambelas 
  8005-139 Faro, Portugal 
 
  E-Mail: dpower@alg.pt 


Expression patterns of MLC isoforms during halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) metamorphosis

Sapientia

Arch. Tierz., Dummerstorf 49 (2006) Special Issue, 97-101 Comparative and Molecular Endocrinology Group, CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal  NÁDIA SILVA, VITOR M. BAPTISTA and DEBORAH M. POWER  Expression patterns of MLC isoforms during halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) metamorphosis Abstract Atlantic halibut is an important commercial fish in the countries of the North Atlantic and is emerging as a promising species for marine cold-water aquaculture. The axial musculature of the developing larvae is the largest and most rapidly growing tissue and during the transition from larval to adult muscle fibre types significant changes in fibre morphology and gene transcription occur. In fact the change in myotome height correlates well with different larval halibut stages. In the present study the spatial and temporal expression of myosin light chain 1 (MLC1), 2 (MLC2) and 3 (MLC3) was studied in metamorphosing halibut by in situ hybridization. As a first step to establishing a role for the thyroid axis in halibut muscle development whole body thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations were also determined. In first feeding larvae MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 transcripts had a similar distribution and were confined to the muscle fibres of the germinal zones. In pre-metamorphic larvae transcripts were highly expressed throughout the epaxial and hypaxial musculature and expression levels reached a maximum in larvae starting metamorphosis, this change coincided with a significant increase in the concentration of thyroid hormones. By the time larvae reached the metamorphic climax, MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 expression was still high throughout the musculature but expression was confined to fibres adjacent to the myosepts and to small cells scattered in the musculature, possibly satellite cells. MLC2A was also expressed in the red muscle fibres; no transition between larval and adult MLC isoforms was detected.  Key Words: Flatfish, in situ localisation, muscle development, thyroid hormones   Zusammenfassung Titel der Arbeit: Expressionsmuster von MLC Isoformen während der Metamorphose beim Heilbutt (Hippoglossus hippoglosus) Der Atlantikheilbutt ist ein kommerziell wichtiger Fisch für Länder des Nordatlantiks und entwickelt sich zu einer viel versprechenden Spezies für die Aquakultur. Die axiale Muskulatur sich entwickelnder Larven stellt das größte und am stärksten wachsende Gewebe dar. Während der Transformation von den larvalen zu adulten Muskelfasertypen treten signifikante Änderungen der Fasermorphologie und der Genexpression auf. Die Myotomgröße korreliert gut mit verschiedenen Stadien der Heilbuttlarven. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurde die lokale und temporale Expression der Gene der leichten Myosinketten 1, 2 und 3 (MLC1, MLC2, MLC3) während der Metamorphose mittels in situ Hybridisierung dargestellt. Als erster Schritt um die Rolle der Schilddrüsenhormon-Achse in der Muskelentwicklung des Heilbutts zu beleuchten, wurden auch die Gesamtkörpergehalte an Schilddrüsenhormonen  (TH) bestimmt. Im frühen Larvenstadium (Stadium 5) haben MLC1, MLC2A und MLC3 Transkripte eine ähnliche Verteilung und sind auf Muskelfasern der Keimzonen begrenzt. In prä-metamorphen Larven werden hohe Transkriptionsraten in der epaxialen und hypaxialen Muskulatur gefunden. Die Expression erreicht ein Maximum in den Larven zu Beginn der Metamorphose; gleichzeitig tritt eine signifikante Zunahme der Konzentration der Schilddrüsenhormone auf. Bis Larven den metamorphen Höhepunkt erreichen, ist die Expression von MLC1, MLC2A und MLC3 in der Muskulatur hoch, aber die Expression ist begrenzt auf  Fasern nahe den Myosepten und auf kleine Zellen, die in der Muskulatur verstreut sind, vielleicht Satellitenzellen. MLC“A wird auch in den roten Muskelfasern exprimiert; kein Umschalten von larvalen zu adulten MLC Isoformen wird beobachtet.  Schlüsselwörter: Plattfisch, in situ Lokalisation, Muskelentwicklung, Schilddrüsenhormone   Introduction The importance of the thyroid hormones (THs); thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), in vertebrate development is well established (POWER et al., 2001). In fish, THs are involved in the transition of larvae to juveniles, the most dramatic manifestation of which is flatfish metamorphosis. TH treatment stimulates flatfish metamorphosis and the transformation from larvae to juvenile of a variety of teleost species although the mechanism by which it acts still remains to be clearly established (DE JESUS et al.,  981998; SOLBAKKEN et al., 1999). In developing fish larvae the axial musculature is the largest and most rapidly growing tissue and the transition from larval to adult muscle fibre types occurs gradually but appears to accompany metamorphosis raising questions about the role of THs. In fact THs have been associated with the developmental transition of myosin isoforms during flounder metamorphosis (KEIKUZE et al., 1993). The functional unit of myosin in vertebrate adult fast skeletal muscle is composed of two heavy chains and four associated light chains; two regulatory myosin light chains (MLC2) and two alkali light chains (MLC1 and MLC3) (THIÉBAUD et al., 2001). In the present study, the ontogeny and distribution of regulatory and alkali light chain myosin was studied using in situ hybridization and related to whole body TH concentrations and thyroid histology.   Material and methods The Atlantic halibut larvae, used in this study, were raised at Fiskey, Iceland. Larval rearing was carried out using standard commercial production routines. The larvae were reared at 10-11 ºC, under constant light conditions (24L) and fed live artemia. and were sampled at regular intervals from the age of 260 D° through to the end of metamorphosis 800ºD.  The T4 and T3 content of whole larvae were assessed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) of larval extracts. Frozen larvae were extracted in methanol, reextracted in 50µl methanol, 200µl chloroform and 100µl barbital buffer, centrifuged (3,000 rpm for 30 min at 4oC). Then, the upper phase removed, lyophilized, reconstituted in assay buffer and assayed. Assays for both T3 and T4 were performed using a double-antibody method under equilibrium conditions. Free hormone was separated from the bound hormone using precipitation with a second antibody. Larvae for histology and in situ hybridization were fixed in paraformaldehyde (PFA, 4%) overnight at 4oC, decalcified in EDTA pH 8 when necessary, embedded in low melting point paraffin and sagittal and transverse section prepared and mounted on APES treated glass slides. In order to study thyroid gland development, sectioned larvae were stained using the Cleveland-Wolfe trichrome method, after dewaxing and rehydrating the sectioned material. Digoxygenin-labelled riboprobes for MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 were prepared by in vitro transcription of plasmid DNA containing PCR fragments encoding halibut MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3. Riboprobe synthesis was carried out using linearized DNA, 20U of the appropriate RNA Polymerase in transcription buffer (Promega, USA) with 1µl of Digoxygenin-RNA labeling mix (Roche Diagnostics, Germany). Hybridization was carried out overnight at 58ºC using 2 µg µl-1 of riboprobe in hybridization solution (50% formamide, 4xSSC, 0.1% torula RNA, 0.01% Heparin, 1× Denhart’s, 0.1% Tween 20, 0.04% CHAPS). To remove non-specifically bound probe, high stringency washes were carried out. Detection of hybridized probe was done using anti-digoxigenin-AP Fab fragments (1:600, Roche Diagnostics) and colour detection was carried out using as substrate the chromagens NBT and BCIP. Control experiments were performed by treating samples with RNase prior to hybridization and/or by omitting riboprobe from the reaction. Sections were analyzed using a microscope (Olympus BH2) coupled to a digital camera (Olympus DP11).   99Results Histological studies of the thyroid gland indicate that its activity appears to accompany the change in concentration of whole body THs measured by RIA which accompanies halibut development. In first feeding larvae (Fig. 1A) thyroid follicles are visible in the loose connective tissue of the pharynx at the insertion of the gill bars, they are infrequent, small and composed of a flattened unicellular epithelial cell layer surrounding a colloid-filled center. In halibut larvae following the yolk-sack period, vesicles are evident in the periphery of the colloid, and instances are found where the colloid is absent from follicles, suggesting increased thyroid activity. Furthermore, the number and size of thyroid follicles and their apparent activity continually increases until the start of metamorphosis (Fig. 1B) when follicles are numerous of a large diameter and frequently lack colloid, indicative of high thyroid activity. After the climax of metamorphosis thyroid follicles are still abundant but are less active. The variation in the concentration of T3 and T4 measured by RIA of whole halibut larval extracts accompanies the activity cycle of the thyroid follicles. Prior to metamorphosis T4 (2 pg mg-1 wet weight, n=6) and T3 (0.5pg mg-1 wet weight, n=6) is fairly constant. Larval T4 (6 pg mg-1 wet tissue) and T3 (2 pg mg-1 wet tissue) content peaks at 610 D° just around the start of metamorphosis. After this, the T4 and T3 content of larvae declines.    Fig. 1: Cleveland-Wolfe trichrome staining of sagital sections of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) larvae showing the development of thyroid follicles (arrowheads). (A) first feeding (stage 5); (B) start of metamorphosis (stage 8); colloid, c; epithelial cell layer, e; follicles lacking colloid, ∗. Scale bars indicates 20µm (Färbung nach Cleveland-Wolfe: Entwicklung der Schilddrüsenfollikel in Sagitalschnitten von Heilbuttlarven (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) (Pfeilspitzen). (A) frühes Stadium (Stadium 5); (B) Start der Metamorphose (Stadium 8); Kolloid c; epitheliale Zellschicht, e; Follikel ohne Kolloid, *. Maßstab 20 µm)  At first feeding (Fig. 2 A) MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 are expressed and have a similar pattern of distribution, with the hybridization signal being most intense at the periphery, of the dorsal and ventral areas where the germinal zones occur (Fig. 2 A’). The expression levels reached a maximum in white muscle at the beginning of metamorphosis (Fig. 2 B, B’) and all three transcripts are highly expressed throughout the epaxial and hypaxial musculature. By the time larvae reached the metamorphic climax (Fig. 2 C), MLC1, MLC2A and MLC3 expression is still high but expression is confined to fibres adjacent to the myosepts and to small cells scattered in the white  100muscle. MLC2A is also expressed in the red muscle fibres. A provisional analysis of MLC expression by RT-PCR revealed that there is a gradual increase in the expression up until stage 9 after which it declines. Moreover, there did not appear to be a transition in MLC isoforms during the larval to juvenile transition.    Fig. 2: Determination of temporal and spatial expression of, MLC2a by means of in situ hybridization with DIG labeled riboprobe in halibut larvae sections. (A) Stage 5, arrow indicates germinal zones; (A’) detail of the germinal zone in (A); (B) stage 8;  (B’) detail of (B); (C) stage 10, arrow indicates fibers staining adjacent to the myosept; arrowheads indicate positive staining cells; RM, red muscle fibers. Scale bars indicates 200µm (Darstellung der temporalen und lokalen Expression von MLC2a mittels in situ Hybridisierung mit DIG-markierten Riboproben in Schnitten von Heilbuttlarven. (A) Stadium 5, Pfeile zeigen Keimzonen; (A´) Details der Keimzonen aus (A); (B) Stadium 8; (B´) Detail von (B); (C) Stadium10, Pfeil deutet auf Fasern nahe der Myosepten; Pfeilspitzen zeigen positive gefärbte Zellen; RM, rote Muskelfasern, Maßstab 200µm)    Discussion Associated with the radical change in the volume and organisation of axial muscle which occurs during fish larval development there is a shift in the distribution of myosin isoforms expressed. The ontogeny of thyroid tissue development and activity coincides with the change in muscle which accompanies metamorphosis. The present observations are consistent with the notion that the change in MLC gene expression may be driven by thyroid hormones. Further work will be required to establish if THs act directly or indirectly on gene encoding muscle proteins to change in musculature during metamorphosis. The functional consequence for growth and survival of the changes in musculature which accompany development and metamorphosis requires much more study. As muscle is of key importance for aquaculture production, it will be of importance to establish a better understanding of how muscle development is regulated by hormones.    Acknowledgements This work was funded by European Union project CT 96-1442, ARRDE-Q5Rs-2002-01192 and Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology – Pluriannual funding to CCMAR. We thank Heiddis Smáradóttir, (Fiskey, Iceland) for providing the animal samples.   101References BANDMAN, E.; ROSSER, B.W.C.: Evolutionary significance of myosin heavy chain heterogeneity in birds. Microscopy Research and Technique 50 (2000), 473-491 BASS, J.J.; SHARMA, M.; OLDHAM, J.; KAMBADUR, R.:  Muscle growth and genetic regulation. In: Ruminant Physiology: Digestion, Metabolism, Growth & Reproduction (PB CRONJE, Ed) CABI Publishing (2000), 227-236 DE JESUS, E.G.T; TOLEDO, J.D.; SIMPAS, M.S.: Thyroid hormones promote early metamorphosis in grouper (Epinephelus coioides) larvae. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 112 (1998) 1, 10-16 KEIKUZE, Y., TAKANO-OHMURO H., OBINATA T., INUI Y.: Effect of Thyroid hormone on developmental transition of myosin light chains during flounder metamorphosis. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 93 (1994), 321-326 POWER, D.M.; LLEWELLYN, L.; FAUSTINO, M.; NOWELL, M.A.; BJORNSSON, B.T.; EINARSDOTTIR, I.E.; CANÁRIO, A.V.M.; SWEENEY, G.E.: Thyroid hormones in growth and development of fish. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C-Toxicol. Pharmacol. 130 (2001) 4, 447-459 SOLBAKKEN, J.S.; NORBERG, B.; WATANABE, K.; PITTMAN, K.: Thyroxine as a mediator of metamorphosis of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus.   Environmental Biology of Fishes 56 (1999) 1-2, 53-65 THIÉBAUD, P.; RESCAN, P.Y.; BARILLOT, W.; RALLIÈRE, C.; THÉZE, N.:  Developmental program expression of myosin alkali light chain and skeletal genes in the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1519 (2001), 139-142    Corresponding Author DEBORAH M. POWER   CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve   Campus Gambelas   8005-139 Faro, Portugal    E-Mail: dpower@alg.pt 

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Expression patterns of MLC isoforms during halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) metamorphosis

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