Morphological malformations of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): Comparison between hormone injected and non-injected fish

In this study, fertilization, hatching and deformation rate of the eggs, and larvae obtained from hormone injected (HI) and non-injected broodstock (NHI), were determined. In the experiment, no differences were observed in the groups’ fertilization rates (p>۰.۰۵). Hatching rate was found higher in the HI group (p<۰.۰۵). During the experiment, malformations such as spinal fluid accumulation, saddleback, air-bladder deformation and general body deformations were observed in both groups. For the NHI group, saddleback rate was found ۵.۱۳±۰.۵۵ %, air-bladder deformation rate was found ۱.۴۳±۰.۱۳%, spinal fluid accumulation was found ۲.۳۳±۱.۳۳% and general body deformation rate was found ۳.۷۶±۰.۲۳ % (p<۰.۰۵). As a result, it was determined that the deformation rate increased with hormone injection (p<۰.۰۵).