Orange nodules in the skin of cultured turbot Scophthalmus maximus containing lipofuscin-like pigments

• Published in: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
• Main Authors: Lamas, J., Novoa, Beatriz, Figueras Huerta, Antonio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Inter Research 1996
• Subjects: Pigments; Epithelioid cells; Granuloma; Turbot; Nutrition; Scophthalmus maximus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/59319; https://doi.org/10.3354/dao024017

7 páginas, 10 figuras Orange nodules of different sizes (1 to 4 cm in diameter) were observed on the skin and fins of cultured turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.). These nodules were located mainly in the dermis and hypodermis and were composed of numerous aggregates of pigment-laden macrophages surrounded by a mixture of epithelioid cells and spindle-shaped cells. The epithelioid cells were very large, had eosinophilic cytoplasm and contained a large nucleus formed by 1 or more lobules and prominent nucleoli. Occasional multinucleate cells were also observed. Affected turbot also displayed melanophore hyperplasia in some patches of the skin. Histochemical studies suggested that the orange pigments were lipofuscin-like substances. Affected turbot showed glomerulonephrit~s and dilated renal tubules. The presence of p~gment sin the eplthelial cells of the intestinal mucosa and in the hepatocytes suggests that these substances or their precursors were included In the food and that affected turbot were unable to metabolize them. This study was supported by grants AGF93-0769-C02-02 and AGF94-1360-CO3-03 from the Comision Intermlnisterial de Clencia y Tecnologia (CICYT) Peer reviewed