Development of thyroid gland and changes in thyroid hormone levels in Leptocephali of Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica)

Development of the thyroid gland of the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) was studied with the use of tank-reared fish. A single thyroid follicle was first found in larvae at 29 days post hatching (dph), total length (TL) 12 mm. Until reaching 25 mm in TL (100 dph), leptocephali had one or two follicles per individual. The inner colloid of the follicles was weakly immuno-positive against the anti-thyroxine (T₄) antibody. The number of thyroid follicles and the immunoreactivity later increased as the larvae grew. Thyroid hormones (TH) T₄ and triiodothyronine (T₃) were not detected in premetamorphic larvae by radioimmunoassays, but became detectable during metamorphosis. The maximum level of T₄ was seen in fish at the end of metamorphosis and in just-metamorphosed juveniles, whereas T₃ reached the highest level during metamorphosis and declined toward the end of metamorphosis. The results indicated that the thyroid gland first became active during metamorphosis in the development of eel.