A comparative study of the histological morphology of normal and deformed vertebrae and operculum of Sparus aurata juveniles by means of histological (Haematoxylin/Eosin), hist ochemical (Alcian blue-AB, Picrosirius red–PR, Tart rate-resistant acid phosphatase-TRAP) and inmunohistochemical (Osteocal cin-Oc, Caspase-3 and PCNA) approaches was performe d. PR staining showed some differences in bone matrix composition between normal and deformed vertebra and operculum. These results were corroborated under polarization optic microscope. P CNA as a marker of cell proliferation also presente d differences in its distribution between normal and deformed vertebral bodies and operculum, with a marked increase in pos itive cells in the growth zone of the endplates from deformed vertebra. Howev er, Caspase-3 as a marker of cell apoptosis did not show such differences. TRAP activity detected in trabecular bone from heal thy sea bream specimens was lacked in deformed ones , suggesting that normal endochondral ossification was restrained. Finally, Oc changed its bone matrix distribution appearing i n notochordal tissue of deformed vertebra.

Trabajo presentado en el XIII Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura, celebrado en Barcelona del 21 al 24 de noviembre de 2011.

Este trabajo fue financiado por el MICINN (proyectos AGL2008-03897-C04-04 y AGL2010-15951) y el CSIC (PIF-200930I128).

Peer Reviewed