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The Epizootiology and Pathogenesis of Thyroid Hyperplasia in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Lake Ontario¹

Departments of Microbiology and Zoology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

The thyroid glands of coho salmon collected at different stages of their anadromous migration exhibited progressive and extensive hyperplasia and hypertrophy. The incidence of overt nodule formation rose from 5% in fish collected in August to 24% in fish collected in October. The histological picture of the goiters was similar to that found in thiourea-treated teleosts and thiouracil-treated mammals. There was a concomitant, significant decrease in serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine values between September and October (thyroxine, 1.0 ± 0.3 µg/100 ml and 0.4 µg/100 ml in September and October, respectively; triiodothyronine, 400.3 ± 51.6 ng/100 ml and 80.2 ng/100 ml in September and October, respectively) and marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia of thyrotrophs. These data indicate a progressive hypothyroid condition which, although it may be linked to iodide deficiency, may well be enhanced by other environmental factors. The evidence for involvement of other factors is discussed.

¹ The work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Environment Canada, and the National Research Council.

² Research Scholar, National Cancer Institute of Canada.

Received 6/ 1/76. Accepted 8/25/76.

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