title: Vertebrae length and ultra-structure measurements of collagen fibrils and mineral content in the vertebrae of lordotic gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata).
abstract: Skeletal deformities of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) are a major factor affecting the production cost, the external morphology and survival and growth of the fish. Adult individuals of S. aurata were collected from a commercial fish farm in Greece and were divided into two groups: one with the presence of lordosis, a skeletal deformity, and one without any skeletal deformity. Fishes were X-rayed, and cervical, abdominal and caudal vertebrae lengths were measured. Vertebrae were taken from the site of the vertebral column where lordosis occurred. One part was decalcified and prepared for collagen examination with transmission electron microscopy, and the rest were incinerated, and the Ca and P contents were measured. The stoichiometries of the samples were obtained by EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy). The same procedure was followed for fish without skeletal deformities (vertebrae were taken from the middle region of the vertebral column). The decalcified vertebrae parts were examined with TEM, collagen micrographs were taken and the fibrils' periods and diameters were measured. There were no significant differences for both Ca and P or the collagen fibrils' periods between the two fish groups. The mean lengths of the cervical, abdominal and caudal vertebrae where lordosis occurred were similar to the lengths of the respective regions of the individuals without the skeletal deformity. The TEM examination showed a significantly smaller mean vertebrae collagen fibril diameter from the fishes with lordosis compared with those from the controls, revealing the significance of collagen to bone structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece. Electronic address: pveril@uth.gr.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berillis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: Vaia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boursiaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Karapanagiotidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008141:Lordosis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D008903:Minerals; D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Ca; Collagen; Lordosis; P; Sparus aurata; Vertebral column