Architecture, mineralization and development of the axial skeleton in Acipenseriformes, and occurrences of axial anomalies in rearing conditions; can current knowledge in teleost fish help?

Summary We review current knowledge of axial skeleton biology in Acipenseriformes with the aim to know whether available data can help in understanding axial anomalies (anomalies of the vertebral column) in reared sturgeons or if further investigations are needed prior to undertake such analysis. In particular, accurate data on axial skeleton development, structure and mineralization are required to understand these pathologies. We show that such knowledge is fragmented and incomplete when compared to the information available in teleost fish. In Acipenseriformes, we only know that (i) the axial skeleton morphology is highly distinctive, as mostly cartilaginous, (ii) the vertebrae are composed of several elements organized around a persistent and unconstricted notochord, and (iii) mineralization only concerns a few of these elements and occurs late in ontogeny, but virtually no descriptions demonstrating the presence of bone (perichondral, membranous…) or mineralized cartilage is available in the literature. In addition, few studies concern axial anomalies in the wild or in rearing conditions, and the determinism of these pathologies is largely unknown. This is in contrast with the numerous studies dealing with the axial skeleton and its anomalies in many farmed teleost species, in which axial anomalies can result from numerous factors, such as unfavourable abiotic conditions, inappropriate nutrition and genetic factors. However, even if some parallels can be established between teleosts and sturgeons, it appears that current knowledge of the axial skeleton in teleosts may not help much in the study of axial anomalies in sturgeons. Knowledge of axial skeleton biology in sturgeon has to be therefore deeply improved prior to undertake investigations focusing on these pathologies.