EARLY MUSCLE INJURIES IN A STANDARD REARED STOCK OF SEA BASS DICENTRARCHUS-LABRAX, (L)

An early myopathy affecting the myotomes of a stock of sea bass is des cribed, By electron microscopical examination different degrees of mus cle lesions were first detected in recently hatched larvae, Muscle fib res underwent a degenerative process, that according to the gravity of the lesions and age of the fish was sequenced in four stages. Necroti c muscle fibres were abundant in the myotomes of post-larvae (more tha n 60 days). Although this degenerative myopathy is non-specific, the i mportance lies in its progressive sequence, Vitamin E-selenium deficie ncy and uncontrolled peroxidation of the lipid content in the feed is thought to be the cause of the problem. The possible implication of th e myopathy in the appearance of a high percentage of lordosis in the s ame stock of sea bass is discussed.