The Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, is a euryhaline Carangid species found along the eastern Atlantic Ocean and considered a prime candidate for the US food aquaculture. However, few studies have evaluated the histological development of this species. In order to discriminate induced changes from environmental and culture conditions, a baseline of normal histological structure is necessary.
From the first day post hatch (DPH), through metamorphosis (24 DPH), and until the juvenile stage (~20 g, 95 DPH), a total of 152 fish were sampled from the broodstock system at the aquaculture facilities located at the FAU-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (Fort Pierce, FL).
Fish were euthanized and fixed in 10% NB formalin. Then, they were dehydrated, embedded in paraffin, cut (4 μm), stained with H&E (Figure 1) and other specific stains (PAS, Masson’s trichrome, silver impregnation), and the slides were scanned and digitalized. To reveal the morphology of the cartilage and the skeleton, the clear-stain technique was used (Alcian Blue and Alizarin Red stain; Figure 2). Finally, the visual information was interpreted and used to illustrate study the different landmarks of pompano’s development.
This work will serve as a reference for the aquaculture industry. More specifically, it will facilitate disease diagnosis and management, and the early detection and reduction of malformations, thus helping in the process of selective breeding and genetic improvement of the species.
It will also help to establish a reference baseline for larval quality control in nutritional studies and development of production technology.