The effect of magnetic field on permeability of egg shells of salmonid fishes

Abstract

Background. The effect of the magnetic field on fish egg shells has not attracted major interest of researchers, even though it could have been predicted that such effect may be vital to fish embryogenesis. One of the hitherto-neglected aspects of the magnetic field action of fish eggs are the changes in the egg shell permeability and possible alteration of the process of embryogenesis. Studying this process and learning the associated phenomena may be important in explaining cases of substantial mortality of the embryos. Materials and methods. Fish eggs (Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.; sea trout, Salmo trutta L.; and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) and isolated egg shells, in a custom-made osmometer setups, were subjected to the action of a stable magnetic field (2 mT). The ultrastructure of the egg-shells was studied using a scanning electron microscope (JEOL JSM 6100). Results. Stable magnetic field (2 mT), affecting fish eggs, caused statistically significant increase in the egg-shell permeability to water, in the period of the egg activation (and also less distinct increase during the entire embryogenesis). Conclusion. Weak, stable magnetic field increases egg-shell permeability to water affecting water management processes in fish eggs, during incubation. This phenomenon may have practical implications for fish hatcheries.