Insulin-like growth factor-I and environmental modulation of growth during smoltification of spring chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawystscha).

The relations among rearing environment, fish size, insulin-like growth factor-I, and smoltification were examined in yearling spring chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Juvenile chinook salmon were size-graded into small and large categories. Half of the fish in each group were reared at an increased temperature and feeding rate beginning in mid-February, resulting in four distinct treatment groups: large warm-water (LW), large cool-water (LC), small warm-water (SW), and small cool-water (SC). Increased temperature and feeding rate resulted in overall higher growth rates for the LW and SW groups. Temporal increases in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were found in all groups through the spring. Plasma IGF-I levels were significantly higher in warm-water groups than in cool-water groups from late March through May. Size itself appeared to have little relation to plasma IGF-I levels. Simple regression showed a significant relation between plasma IGF-I and growth (P < 0. 001, R2 = 0.50). No differences were found between treatment groups in other physiological parameters assessed (plasma thyroxine, gill Na+-K+-ATPase, liver glycogen, body lipid).