Thermal plasticity of muscle cellularity and gene expression in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

Temperature-induced responses at the level of muscle growth potential have been observed in teleost fish species, concomitantly with gene expression changes (Johnston and Hall 2004). Incubation temperature has been demonstrated to influence the muscle cellularity at hatch and during larval development, and these effects are highly species-specific. Changes in the relative timing and expression level of myogenic genes were found to be related with thermal plasticity of muscle phenotype (Fernandes, Mackenzie et al. 2006). The eggs of the flatfish Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) in aquaculture conditions are normally incubated within the 16-20ºC range, but influence of temperature on muscle cellularity and expression of growth-related genes is unknown. Understanding these effects may contribute to improve growth conditions and juvenile production