title: Histopathology of the skin of UV-B irradiated sole (Solea solea) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae.
abstract: Larval stages of two economically important flatfish, the sole (Solea solea) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were exposed to ambient and elevated levels of UV-B. Sole larvae, which naturally occur in the plankton in early spring, demonstrated skin lesions at elevated levels of UV-B. Histopathology of the sole revealed cellular changes in the integument, characteristic of sunburn damage, with a reduction in the size of mucus-secreting cells and an increased epidermal thickening, especially at the highest doses of UV-B (2.15 KJ bio eff/m2). Pigmentation in the sole is restricted to a few isolated melanocytes. The integrity of the heavily pigmented skin of turbot appeared to be unaffected by comparable doses of UV-B. Both species have protective mechanisms, which minimize the effects of naturally-occurring levels of UV-B. However, sole appear to be poorly adapted to accommodate any further increase in solar radiation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Hoe, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3DH, UK. irbm@wpo.nerc.ac.uk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McFadzen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baynes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beesley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000196:embryology*; D007814:Larva / Q000528:radiation effects; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays