Parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon: thyroid hormone deiodination in liver and brain and endocrine correlates of change in rheotactic behavior

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that metabolism of thyroid hormones by the brain of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) changes when rheotactic behavior reverses during parr-smolt transformation (PST). We measured brain and liver thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) outer-ring deiodination (ORD) and inner-ring deiodination (IRD) activities and plasma T4and T3levels in Atlantic salmon held under natural photoperiod in fresh water at 10°C in the spring of 1993 and 1994. We also measured changes in T4, T3, and cortisol levels during the change in rheotactic behavior. Condition factor decreased while salinity tolerance improved from mid-March to late April. The turbidity-induced transition from upstream to downstream swimming occurred in mid to late April. The main changes in brain deiodination were reduced T3IRD (1993 study) and elevated T4ORD (1994 study). In both years, a high ratio of T4ORD/T3IRD activities in the brain indicated an increased potential for T3production in the brain during advanced PST. Liver deiodination profiles differed between years, but during advanced PST the low T4ORD activity and low T4ORD/T3IRD activity ratio suggested a low potential for hepatic, and hence systemic, T3production. However, plasma T4was increased in downstream swimmers at 1 d (1993) and 4 h (1994) after the turbidity increase. Since at this time brain deiodination pathways were poised towards T3production, the surge in plasma T4would likely increase local T3formation in brain. We conclude that during PST there is no major change in hepatic deiodination and hence probably no major change in systemic T3availability. But deiodination properties in brain during late PST indicate the potential for local T3formation. This may be significant when plasma T4increases at the time of downstream migration.