Lunar cycles of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. II. Scale amino acid uptake, nucleic acids, metabolic reserves and plasma thyroid hormones.

[14C]glycine uptake by scales in vitro was measured in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum) smolts at different times during several semi-lunar cycles. There was a clear cyclical pattern of glycine uptake during the semi-lunar period. Evidence for semi-lunar cycles of liver and muscle RNA:DNA ratios, carcass water content, haematocrit, and plasma triglyceride, glucose and cholesterol levels was also found in coho salmon parrs. Plasma L-thyroxine (T4) levels exhibited a cyclical pattern during the semi-lunar cycle in parrs sampled in March when plasma T4 levels tended to be low, but no such pattern was seen in parrs sampled in January when the plasma T4 levels were relatively high (1.39-1.88 micrograms dl-1 in January compared with 0.38-0.83 micrograms dl-1 in March). There were no apparent semi-lunar cycles in liver mass:body mass ratios and plasma triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) levels. Changes in growth parameters (nucleic acid levels and glycine uptake by scales) and the content of nutrient reserves are discussed in relation to the semi-lunar patterns of growth in length, growth in mass, and food intake in this species.