Description and comparative study of physico-chemical parameters of the teleost fish skin mucus.
The study of mucosal surfaces, and in particular the fish skin and its secreted mucus, has been of great interest recently among immunologists. Measurement of the viscosity and other physico-chemical parameters (protein concentration, pH, conductivity, redox potential, osmolality and density) of the skin mucus can help to understand its biological functions. We have used five marine species of teleost: gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa L.), common dentex (Dentex dentex L.) and dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus L.), all of them with commercial interest in the aquaculture of the Mediterranean area. Mucus showed a direct shear- and temperature-dependent viscosity, with a non-Newtonian behavior, which differed however between two groups: one with higher viscosity (D. labrax, U. cirrosa, D. dentex) and the other with lower viscosity (S. aurata, E. marginatus). In addition, there was a clear interrelation between density and osmolality, as well as between density and temperature. Taking into account that high values of viscosity should improve the barrier effect against pathogens but low values of viscosity are needed for good locomotion characteristics, our results may help elucidate the relationship between physico-chemical and biological parameters of skin mucus, and disease susceptibility.
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Francisco A
FA
Guardiola
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
María
M
Cuartero
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
María
M
Del Mar Collado-González
Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Murcia, Spain.
Marta
M
Arizcún
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
F Guillermo
FG
Díaz Baños
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
José
J
Meseguer
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Alberto
A
Cuesta
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
María A
MA
Esteban
D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000378:metabolism; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010473:Perciformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
Fish; density; osmolality; protein concentration; skin mucus; teleosts; viscosity