Flow cytometric determination of genome size in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), thinlip mullet (Liza ramada), and European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The nuclear DNA content in Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata, Liza ramada, and Anguilla anguilla, was measured by flow cytometric analysis. Male human leukocytes were used as internal reference cells. Nucleated fish erythrocytes were stained simultaneously to human leukocytes with a staining buffer containing propidium iodide (PI). Nuclear DNA contents of target species were estimated in relation to an assigned value of 7.0 pg DNA for male human leukocytes. The DNA content/nucleus (±CI) was 1.55 ± 0.02 pg for D. labrax, 1.90 ± 0.03 pg for S. aurata, 1.57 ± 0.02 pg for L. ramada, and 2.43 ± 0.04 pg for A. anguilla. Intraspecific DNA content variations ranged from 0−9% and averaged around 4% in all taxa. The results did not evidence significant differences in genome size between males and females in either D. labrax or L. ramada.