Morphological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study of the gill epithelium in the abyssal teleost fish Coelorhynchus coelorhynchus.
Histochemical and immunohistochemical study was carried out on nitrinergic innervation and neuroendocrine system in the gill epithelium of the abyssal fish Coelorhynchus coelorhynchus. The results showed that nNOS-positive nerve fibers, originating from the branchial arch were present in the subepithelial tissue of branchial primary filament. nNOS-positive neuroendocrine cells were also present in the primary filaments and secondary lamellae. Numerous mucous cells in the gill epithelium were AB/PAS-positive, while sialic acid was absent as confirmed by neuraminidase reaction and WGA lectin histochemistry. The mucus compounds in abyssal teleost fish are different from those found in pelagic species, being related to their living conditions. In abyssal species, greater numbers of chloride and neuroendocrine cells are involved in the movement of water and electrolytes. Neuroendocrine cells possess oxygen receptors which mediate the cardiovascular and ventilatory response to oxygen deficiency, as reported in teleost species. Besides, NO contributes through nervous stimulation to the regulation of vascular tone and blood circulation in the gill.
Calabrò
Concetta
C
Department of Animal Biology and Marine Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Messina, Italy.
Albanese
Maria Pia
MP
Lauriano
Eugenia Rita
ER
Martella
Silvestro
S
Licata
Aurelio
A
D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D005399:Fishes; D005880:Gills / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D013045:Species Specificity
D006001:Glycoconjugates; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I