Changes in serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations during metamorphosis of the Southern Hemisphere Lamprey Geotria australis, and the effect of propylthiouracil, triiodothyronine and environmental temperature on serum thyroid hormone concentrations of ammocoetes

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Abstract
Serum thyroid hormone concentrations were measured during the seven stages of metamorphosis (1–7) of the southern hemisphere lamprey, Geotria australis. The respective mean concentrations ± SEM of serum thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) fell from 31.73 ± 4.09 and 5.06 ± 0.70 nM in large ammocoetes sampled in February, at the time when metamorphosis was initiated, to 4.54 ± 0.36 and 1.03 ± 0.12 nM at stage 5. Although there was a small, but significant, recovery of serum T4 concentrations during stages 6 and 7, no such corresponding statistically significant rise occurred in serum T3 concentrations. Serum thyroid hormone concentrations in ammocoetes sampled during the period when metamorphosis was taking place, exhibited a marked seasonal increase between February and May–June (late autumn/early winter); serum T3 and T4 concentrations peaked in May–June and were, respectively, > 2 fold and > 8 fold higher than those recorded for samples in late February (mid summer). By mid-July the serum T4 and T3 levels had declined from the peak values. Ammocoetes taken from streams at 16°C in June and acclimated to aquaria water at 25°C or 6°C had significantly lower serum T3 and T4 concentrations at the higher temperature, and also a lower serum T4, but not T3 concentration, at the lower temperature. Treatment of separate groups of ammocoetes with either propylthiouracil or T3 for 70 days significantly depressed and raised respectively, the serum thyroid hormone and hepatic T3 concentrations and caused significant changes in the body weight, but did not induce the onset of metamorphosis.