Functional units in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, Richardson) liver: III. Morphometric analysis of parenchyma, stroma, and component cell types

A practical guide to unbiased quantitative morphological analyses of the gills of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in ecotoxicological studies

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are frequently used as experimental animals in ecotoxicological studies, in which they are experimentally exposed to defined concentrations of test substances, such as heavy metals, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals. Following exposure to a broad variety of aquatic pollutants, early morphologically detectable toxic effects often manifest in alterations of the gills. Suitable methods for an accurate and unbiased quantitative characterization of the type and the extent of morphological gill alterations are therefore essential prerequisites for recognition, objective evaluation and comparison of the severity of gill lesions. The aim of the present guidelines is to provide practicable, standardized and detailed protocols for the application of unbiased quantitative stereological analyses of relevant morphological parameters of the gills of rainbow trout. These gill parameters inter alia include the total volume of the primary and secondary gill lamellae, the surface area of the secondary gill lamellae epithelium (i.e., the respiratory surface) and the thickness of the diffusion barrier. The featured protocols are adapted to fish of frequently used body size classes (300-2000 g). They include well-established, conventional sampling methods, probes and test systems for unbiased quantitative stereological analyses of light- and electron microscopic 2-D gill sections, as well as the application of modern 3-D light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) of optically cleared gill samples as an innovative, fast and efficient quantitative morphological analysis approach. The methods shown here provide a basis for standardized and representative state-of-the-art quantitative morphological analyses of trout gills, ensuring the unbiasedness and reproducibility, as well as the intra- and inter-study comparability of analyses results. Their broad implementation will therefore significantly contribute to the reliable identification of no observed effect concentration (NOEC) limits in ecotoxicological studies and, moreover, to limit the number of experimental animals by reduction of unnecessary repetition of experiments.

Comparative liver morphology associated with the hepatosomatic index in five Neotropical anuran species

The liver is an important metabolic organ in vertebrates. In anurans, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) reflects differences in energy storage and reproductive activities between males and females. The objective of this study was to describe the histological and histometric parameters of the livers of five species of Neotropical anurans, taking sex-related differences into account. We also tested how the relationship between quantitative histometric variables and HSI varied between males and females in different species. Five males and five females of Elachistocleis matogrosso, Leptodactylus podicipinus, Lysapsus limellum, Pseudis platensis, and Trachycephalus typhonius were captured in central Brazil during the rainy season. HSI did not vary according to sex, but it varied among species. Elachistocleis matogrosso had the highest HSI due to the large hepatocyte size. The percentage of melanomacrophage centers (MMCs) was higher in P. platensis and L. limellum. In T. thyphonius, hepatocyte area was negatively associated with HSI, while the MMC percentages were positively associated with HSI. The liver plays a key role in reproductive activities, especially for species with explosive reproduction. Additionally, histometric patterns and volumetric structural density varied between males and females due to energy utilization for reproduction. Not only are these results important for future studies on hepatic morphophysiology but they also provide tools for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies.

Specific pathogens and microbial abundance within liver and kidney tissues of wild marine fish from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

This study is an initial description and discussion of the kidney and liver microbial communities of five common fish species sampled from four sites along the Eastern Mediterranean Sea shoreline. The goals of the present study were to establish a baseline dataset of microbial communities associated with the tissues of wild marine fish, in order to examine species-specific microbial characteristics and to screen for candidate pathogens. This issue is especially relevant due to the development of mariculture farms and the possible transmission of pathogens from wild to farmed fish and vice versa. Although fish were apparently healthy, 16S rRNA NGS screening identified three potential fish bacterial pathogens: Photobacterium damselae, Vibrio harveyi and Streptococcus iniae. Based on the distribution patterns and relative abundance, 16 samples were classified as potential pathogenic bacteria-infected samples (PPBIS). Hence, PPBIS prevalence was significantly higher in kidneys than in liver samples and variation was found between the fish species. Significant differences were observed between fish species, organs and sites, indicating the importance of the environmental conditions on the fish microbiome. We applied a consistent sampling and analytical method for monitoring in long-term surveys which may be incorporated within other marine fish pathogens surveys around the world.

Temporal Dynamics of DNA Methylation Patterns in Response to Rearing Juvenile Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a Hatchery versus Simulated Stream Environment

Genetic selection is often implicated as the underlying cause of heritable phenotypic differences between hatchery and wild populations of steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that also differ in lifetime fitness. Developmental plasticity, which can also affect fitness, may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation. Our previous study identified significant differences in DNA methylation between adult hatchery- and natural-origin steelhead from the same population that could not be distinguished by DNA sequence variation. In the current study, we tested whether hatchery-rearing conditions can influence patterns of DNA methylation in steelhead with known genetic backgrounds, and assessed the stability of these changes over time. Eyed-embryos from 22 families of Methow River steelhead were split across traditional hatchery tanks or a simulated stream-rearing environment for 8 months, followed by a second year in a common hatchery tank environment. Family assignments were made using a genetic parentage analysis to account for relatedness among individuals. DNA methylation patterns were examined in the liver, a relatively homogeneous organ that regulates metabolic processes and somatic growth, of juveniles at two time points: after eight months of rearing in either a tank or stream environment and after a subsequent year of rearing in a common tank environment. Further, we analyzed DNA methylation in the sperm of mature 2-year-old males from the earlier described treatments to assess the potential of environmentally-induced changes to be passed to offspring. Hepatic DNA methylation changes in response to hatchery versus stream-rearing in yearling fish were substantial, but few persisted after a second year in the tank environment. However, the early rearing environment appeared to affect how fish responded to developmental and environmental signals during the second year since novel DNA methylation differences were identified in the livers of hatchery versus stream-reared fish after a year of common tank rearing. Furthermore, we found profound differences in DNA methylation due to age, irrespective of rearing treatment. This could be due to smoltification associated changes in liver physiology after the second year of rearing. Although few rearing-treatment effects were observed in the sperm methylome, strong family effects were observed. These data suggest limited potential for intergenerational changes, but highlight the importance of understanding the effects of kinship among studied individuals in order to properly analyze and interpret DNA methylation data in natural populations. Our work is the first to study family effects and temporal dynamics of DNA methylation patterns in response to hatchery-rearing.

Estimating the Bioconcentration Factors of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds from Biotransformation Rates Using Rainbow Trout Hepatocytes

Determining the biotransformation potential of commercial chemicals is critical for estimating their persistence in the aquatic environment. In vitro systems are becoming increasingly important as screening methods for assessing the potential for chemical metabolism. Depletion rate constants (k_d) for several organic chemicals with high octanol-water partition coefficient (K_ow) values (9-methylanthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, and PCB-153) in rainbow trout hepatocytes were determined to estimate biotransformation rate constants (k_MET) that were used in fish bioconcentration factor (BCF) models. Benzo[a]pyrene was rapidly biotransformed when incubated singly; however, its depletion rate constant (k_d) declined 79% in a mixture of all four chemicals. Chrysene also exhibited significant biotransformation and its depletion rate constant declined by 50% in the mixture incubation. These data indicate that biotransformation rates determined using single chemicals may overestimate metabolism in environments containing chemical mixtures. Incubations with varying cell concentrations were used to determine whether cell concentration affected k_d estimates. No statistically significant change in depletion rate constants were seen, possibly due to an increase in nonspecific binding of hydrophobic chemicals as cell density increased, decreasing overall biotransformation. A new model was used to estimate BCFs from k_MET values calculated from empirically derived k_d values. The inclusion of k_MET in models resulted in significantly lower BCF values (compared k_MET = 0). Modelled BCF values were consistent with empirically derived BCF values from the literature.

Distribution of mannose receptor in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) during the embryonic development and its immune response to the challenge of Aeromonas hydrophila

The mannose receptor (MR) is a type I transmembrane protein. Its ectodomain has eight C-type lectin-like domains, which are able to recognize and mediate the phagocytosis of a wide range of pathogens. Comprehensive studies have revealed that mammalian MR is widely distributed in the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS, previously known as the reticuloendothelial system) and play a key role both in the physiological clearance and cell activation. Hitherto, neither the MR distribution, nor the function of clearance and cell activation has been investigated in fish. In the previous study, we have reported the full-length cDNA of blunt snout bream MR, analyzed its structure and relative mRNA expression during embryogenesis and in the liver, head kidney, spleen and intestine of fish after stimulation with killed Aeromonas hydrophila. In the present study, we developed a rabbit polyclonal antibody against MR and undertook a systematic survey of the expression of MR at the protein level by immunohistochemistry. To get more information about MR function, the mRNA expression of MR, pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α and anti-inflammatory factor ARG2 genes was measured by qRT-PCR in the liver, head kidney, and spleen after A. hydrophila challenge. We first observed MR expression in the yolk sac at the fertilized egg stage and possibly MR was expressed by early macrophages. We also showed the MR distribution in head kidney, body kidney, spleen, liver, intestine, muscle, brain, heart, and gills. Following A. hydrophila challenge the MR immunoreactive cells became more widespread in head kidney and spleen, which are the major reticuloendothelial systems of fish. The quantitative studies at mRNA levels showed that there exists a high correlation between MR expression and immune cytokine expressions after bacteria challenge.

Remodelling of the hepatic epigenetic landscape of glucose-intolerant rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by nutritional status and dietary carbohydrates

The rainbow trout, a carnivorous fish, displays a 'glucose-intolerant' phenotype revealed by persistent hyperglycaemia when fed a high carbohydrate diet (HighCHO). Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene activity and is closely related to environmental changes and thus to metabolism adjustments governed by nutrition. In this study we first assessed in the trout liver whether and how nutritional status affects global epigenome modifications by targeting DNA methylation and histone marks previously reported to be affected in metabolic diseases. We then examined whether dietary carbohydrates could affect the epigenetic landscape of duplicated gluconeogenic genes previously reported to display changes in mRNA levels in trout fed a high carbohydrate diet. We specifically highlighted global hypomethylation of DNA and hypoacetylation of H3K9 in trout fed a HighCHO diet, a well-described phenotype in diabetes. g6pcb2 ohnologs were also hypomethylated at specific CpG sites in these animals according to their up-regulation. Our findings demonstrated that the hepatic epigenetic landscape can be affected by both nutritional status and dietary carbohydrates in trout. The mechanism underlying the setting up of these epigenetic modifications has now to be explored in order to improve understanding of its impact on the glucose intolerant phenotype in carnivorous teleosts.

Zebrafish: an important tool for liver disease research

As the incidence of hepatobiliary diseases increases, we must improve our understanding of the molecular, cellular, and physiological factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of liver disease. Animal models help us identify disease mechanisms that might be targeted therapeutically. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have traditionally been used to study embryonic development but are also important to the study of liver disease. Zebrafish embryos develop rapidly; all of their digestive organs are mature in larvae by 5 days of age. At this stage, they can develop hepatobiliary diseases caused by developmental defects or toxin- or ethanol-induced injury and manifest premalignant changes within weeks. Zebrafish are similar to humans in hepatic cellular composition, function, signaling, and response to injury as well as the cellular processes that mediate liver diseases. Genes are highly conserved between humans and zebrafish, making them a useful system to study the basic mechanisms of liver disease. We can perform genetic screens to identify novel genes involved in specific disease processes and chemical screens to identify pathways and compounds that act on specific processes. We review how studies of zebrafish have advanced our understanding of inherited and acquired liver diseases as well as liver cancer and regeneration.

Functional xenobiotic metabolism and efflux transporters in trout hepatocyte spheroid cultures

Prediction of xenobiotic fate in fish is important for the regulatory assessment of chemicals under current legislation.

Prediction of xenobiotic fate in fish is important for the regulatory assessment of chemicals under current legislation. Trout hepatocyte spheroids are a promising in vitro model for this assessment. In this investigation, the gene expression and function for xenobiotic metabolism and cellular efflux were characterised. Using fluorescence, transport and real time PCR analysis, the expression and functionality of a variety of genes related to xenobiotic metabolism and drug efflux were assessed in a range of trout hepatocyte culture preparations. Significantly greater levels of expression of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and efflux were measured in spheroids (which have been shown to remain viable in excess of 30 days), compared to hepatocytes cultured using conventional suspension and monolayer culture techniques. A transient decline in the expression of genes related to both xenobiotic metabolism and transport was determined during spheroid development, with a subsequent recovery in older spheroids. The most mature spheroids also exhibited an expression profile most comparable to that reported in vivo. Functionality of efflux transporters in spheroids was also demonstrated using fluorescent markers and specific inhibitors. In conclusion, the more physiologically relevant architecture in spheroid cultures provides a high functional integrity in relation to xenobiotic metabolism and efflux. Together with the enhanced gene expression and longevity of the model, hepatocytes in spheroid culture may prove to be an accurate alternative model to study the mechanisms of these processes in fish liver and provide an assay to determine the bioaccumulation potential of environmental contaminants.

The teleostean liver as an immunological organ: Intrahepatic immune cells (IHICs) in healthy and benzo[a]pyrene challenged rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The existence of a resident population of intrahepatic immune cells (IHICs) is well documented for mammalian vertebrates, however, it is uncertain whether IHICs are present in the liver of teleostean fish. In the present study we investigated whether trout liver contains an IHIC population, and if so, what the relative cellular composition of this population is. The results provide clear evidence for the existence of an IHIC population in trout liver, which constitutes 15-29% of the non-hepatocytes in the liver, and with a cellular composition different to that of the blood leukocyte population. We also analyzed the response of IHICs to a non-infectious liver challenge with the hepatotoxic and immunotoxic chemical, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Juvenile trout were treated with BaP (25 or 100mg/kgbw) at levels sufficient to induce the molecular pathway of BaP metabolism while not causing pathological and inflammatory liver changes. The IHIC population responded to the BaP treatments in a way that differed from the responses of the leukocyte populations in trout blood and spleen, suggesting that IHICs are an independently regulated immune cell population.

Morphologic study of the liver of lambari (Astyanax altiparanae) with emphasis on the distribution of cytokeratin

Studies on the morphology of the liver of teleosts reflect some controversy in the interpretation of the data, but also provide confirmation of variations in the structure of the organ in several species. Thus, we intend to understand the specific structural organization of the liver of Astyanax altiparanae. Specimens were collected in the city of Andirá, Paraná, Brazil. The livers were processed according to histological routine for inclusion in Paraplast, and the sections were stained with HE and Mallory's trichrome or followed the protocol for fluorescence immunohistochemistry, anti-cytokeratin. The liver of A. altiparanae was covered by a capsule of connective tissue, without delimiting lobes. The hepatocytes had an arrangement in cords around sinusoids. Melanomacrophage centers were observed. The vascular components and intrahepatic pancreatic acini were distributed between hepatocytes. Presence of cytokeratin was detected in tissues that lined the liver and endothelial cells of sinusoids. The comparison of the liver of A. altiparanae to other characids corroborates with the fact that there is variation in the morphology of the liver even between closely related species. Moreover, it appears that in this species, endothelial cells of sinusoids can synthesize the cytokeratin filaments required for the regulation of blood flow in capillaries in adults.

Brown trout Salmo trutta f. Fario liver ultrastructure as a biomarker for assessment of small stream pollution

T he effects of environmental pollutants from two small streams in south-west Germany on the liver of brown trout (S almo trutta f. Fario) were studied as biomarkers by means of quantitative and semi-quantitative electron microscopy, and quantitatively by morphometrical measurements. Cellular damage was assessed semi-quantitatively based on a classification of ultrastructural responses. Both methods revealed more severe cellular effects in the liver of trout which had been exposed to the highly polluted stream than in those exposed to the lightly polluted river. Morphometrical studies showed a significant reduction of glycogen storage and a significant increase in number of mitochondria, peroxisomes and cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. The biomarker responses of this study were correlated with the results obtained by limnological and analytical investigations, and reflect the levels of pollution in each stream.

Use of medaka in toxicity testing

Small aquarium fishes are increasingly used as animal models, and one of these, the Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes), is frequently utilized for toxicity testing. While these vertebrates have many similarities with their terrestrial counterparts, there are differences that must be considered if these organisms are to be used to their highest potential. Commonly, testing may employ either the developing embryo or adults; both are easy to use and work with. To illustrate the utility and breadth of toxicity testing possible using medaka fish, we present protocols for assessing neurotoxicity in developing embryos, evaluating toxicant effects on sexual phenotype after treatment with endocrine-disrupting chemicals by sexual genotyping, and measuring hepatotoxicity in adult fish after treatment with a model hepatotoxicant. The methods run the gamut from immunohistology through PCR to basic histological techniques.

The hepatocytes of the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario): a stereological study of some cytoplasmic components with the breeding cycle

Sex differences exist in fish hepatocytes, but studies for characterizing their cytology throughout the breeding cycle are still scarce; suggesting changes, but most lacking quantitative data. To address this limitation, to complement baseline data generated from the brown trout model, and to prove that sex-specific seasonal changes exist, we made an unbiased stereological evaluation of the hepatocytic cytoplasm. Unprecedentedly for fish liver, the stereological design was exempt from model (biased) assumptions. Five (3 years old) animals per sex were studied in endogenous vitellogenesis, exogenous vitellogenesis, and spawning season end. Liver pieces for analysis were systematically sampled. Stereology was done in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. Primary data generated relative volume estimates of the major cytoplasmic components. Such values were used for deriving absolute volumes (per cell and per liver). Lipid droplets did not show changes. As to other targets, trends at cell and liver levels were not always equal. If the hepatocyte was the reference space, the contents in mitochondria, dense bodies, glycogen, and cytosol changed seasonally, in both sexes. If taking the liver as the reference, changes attained the Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), besides dense bodies, glycogen (in females), and cytosol. The components volumes (namely per liver) were often positively (negatively for glycogen) correlated with the ovary weight, disclosing new associations and implications in fish. While also offering gold-standard data for backing morphofunctional correlations and pathology, we revealed a new process by which females increase the amount of RER and Golgi throughout vitellogenesis, breaking from the idea on how this event happens in fish.

Optimization of an isolated perfused rainbow trout liver model: Clearance studies with 7-ethoxycoumarin

To date, research with isolated perfused fish livers has been limited by the relatively short time period during which stable performance can be achieved. In the present study, modifications to existing methods were employed with the goal of extending the usable life of an isolated perfused trout liver preparation. Liver performance was evaluated by measuring O(2) consumption (VO(2)), vascular resistance, K(+) leakage, glucose flux, lactate flux, and clearance of a model metabolic substrate, 7-ethoxycoumarin (CL(H,7-EC)). Livers perfused with solutions containing 15, 38, or 150microM bovine serum albumin (BSA) exhibited relatively stable physiological performance for up to 10h. CL(H,7-EC) decreased rapidly between 1 and 2h in all livers tested, possibly due in part to accumulation of 7-EC within the tissue. CL(H,7-EC) declined slowly thereafter, decreasing by 30-40% between 2 and 10h. A linear equation was subsequently developed to correct measured levels of clearance for this decrease in metabolic activity over time. To illustrate the value of this preparation, experiments were conducted to examine the effects of protein binding on 7-EC clearance. Clearance rates corrected for declining activity (CL(H,7-EC,CORR)) changed in nearly direct proportion to changes in the free concentration of 7-EC efferent to the liver, as predicted by theoretical models of liver function. Additional studies were performed to characterize the concentration-dependence of 7-EC clearance. The rate of substrate disappearance from the perfusate increased in proportion to the total concentration of 7-EC afferent to the liver resulting in constant levels of CL(H,7-EC,CORR). CL(H,7-EC,CORR) values for four livers averaged 12.1+/-2.5mL/h/g-liver (mean+/-SD, n=57 individual determinations) and were in good agreement with an estimate of hepatic clearance obtained by extrapolating published in vitro data from isolated trout hepatocytes. The extended viability of isolated trout livers achieved in this study creates new opportunities for research on hepatic function in fish.

Non invasive in vivo investigation of hepatobiliary structure and function in STII medaka (Oryzias latipes): methodology and applications

Background

A novel transparent stock of medaka (Oryzias latipes; STII), recessive for all pigments found in chromatophores, permits transcutaneous imaging of internal organs and tissues in living individuals. Findings presented describe the development of methodologies for non invasive in vivo investigation in STII medaka, and the successful application of these methodologies to in vivo study of hepatobiliary structure, function, and xenobiotic response, in both 2 and 3 dimensions.

Results

Using brightfield, and widefield and confocal fluorescence microscopy, coupled with the in vivo application of fluorescent probes, structural and functional features of the hepatobiliary system, and xenobiotic induced toxicity, were imaged at the cellular level, with high resolution (< 1 μm), in living individuals. The findings presented demonstrate; (1) phenotypic response to xenobiotic exposure can be investigated/imaged in vivo with high resolution (< 1 μm), (2) hepatobiliary transport of solutes from blood to bile can be qualitatively and quantitatively studied/imaged in vivo, (3) hepatobiliary architecture in this lower vertebrate liver can be studied in 3 dimensions, and (4) non invasive in vivo imaging/description of hepatobiliary development in this model can be investigated.

Conclusion

The non-invasive in vivo methodologies described are a unique means by which to investigate biological structure, function and xenobiotic response with high resolution in STII medaka. In vivo methodologies also provide the future opportunity to integrate molecular mechanisms (e.g., genomic, proteomic) of disease and toxicity with phenotypic changes at the cellular and system levels of biological organization. While our focus has been the hepatobiliary system, other organ systems are equally amenable to in vivo study, and we consider the potential for discovery, within the context of in vivo investigation in STII medaka, as significant.

Xenobiotic intrinsic clearance in freshly isolated hepatocytes from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): determination of trout hepatocellularity, optimization of cell concentrations and comparison of serum and serum-free incubations

Metabolism plays an important role in bioaccumulation of xenobiotics in fish. In vitro determination of xenobiotic intrinsic clearance (CLint) in trout hepatocytes and subsequent extrapolation to in vivo hepatic clearance (CLH) using the "well-stirred" liver model greatly improved our current practice of bioaccumulation assessment [Han, X., Nabb, D.L., Mingoia, R.T., Yang, C.H., 2007. Determination of xenobiotic intrinsic clearance in freshly isolated hepatocytes from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and rat and its application in bioaccumulation assessment. Environ. Sci. Technol. 41, 3269-3276]. In an effort to further optimize this approach, we experimentally obtained the value of trout hepatocellularity (HT), a key scaling factor in the "well-stirred" liver model. HT was determined to be (540+/-12)x10(6)cells/g liver for male trout. We also investigated the potential effect of different cell concentrations on the determination of CL(int) values of molinate, 4,4-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 4-nonylphenol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and benzo(a)pyrene. Linear relationships were established between clearance rates and cell concentrations at 1x10(6), 2x10(6), 5x10(6), and 10x10(6)cells/mL. This suggests that under our experimental conditions, CLint determination was independent of hepatocyte concentrations. In order to better understand the "in vitro binding" effect in in vitro-to-in vivo scaling, we obtained CLint values for the above-mentioned compounds in trout hepatocytes that were suspended in trout serum. Incubations in serum, in general, resulted relatively larger prediction of CLH values. Our findings suggest that in bioaccumulation assessment, the traditional medium incubation method offers a conservative estimate on fish metabolism of xenobiotics and the serum incubation approach could be used for certain classes of compounds that are of challenge for in silico prediction of their plasma and in vitro binding properties.

Approach for extrapolating in vitro metabolism data to refine bioconcentration factor estimates

National and international chemical management programs are assessing thousands of chemicals for their persistence, bioaccumulative and environmental toxic properties; however, data for evaluating the bioaccumulation potential for fish are limited. Computer based models that account for the uptake and elimination processes that contribute to bioaccumulation may help to meet the need for reliable estimates. One critical elimination process of chemicals is metabolic transformation. It has been suggested that in vitro metabolic transformation tests using fish liver hepatocytes or S9 fractions can provide rapid and cost-effective measurements of fish metabolic potential, which could be used to refine bioconcentration factor (BCF) computer model estimates. Therefore, recent activity has focused on developing in vitro methods to measure metabolic transformation in cellular and subcellular fish liver fractions. A method to extrapolate in vitro test data to the whole body metabolic transformation rates is presented that could be used to refine BCF computer model estimates. This extrapolation approach is based on concepts used to determine the fate and distribution of drugs within the human body which have successfully supported the development of new pharmaceuticals for years. In addition, this approach has already been applied in physiologically-based toxicokinetic models for fish. The validity of the in vitro to in vivo extrapolation is illustrated using the rate of loss of parent chemical measured in two independent in vitro test systems: (1) subcellular enzymatic test using the trout liver S9 fraction, and (2) primary hepatocytes isolated from the common carp. The test chemicals evaluated have high quality in vivo BCF values and a range of logK(ow) from 3.5 to 6.7. The results show very good agreement between the measured BCF and estimated BCF values when the extrapolated whole body metabolism rates are included, thus suggesting that in vitro biotransformation data could effectively be used to reduce in vivo BCF testing and refine BCF model estimates. However, additional fish physiological data for parameterization and validation for a wider range of chemicals are needed.

Non invasive high resolution in vivo imaging of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) induced hepatobiliary toxicity in STII medaka

A novel transparent stock of medaka (Oryzias latipes; STII), homozygous recessive for all four pigments (iridophores, xanthophores, leucophores, melanophores), permits transcutaneous, high resolution (<1 microm) imaging of internal organs and tissues in living individuals. We applied this model to in vivo investigation of alpha -naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) induced hepatobiliary toxicity. Distinct phenotypic responses to ANIT involving all aspects of intrahepatic biliary passageways (IHBPs), particularly bile preductular epithelial cells (BPDECs), associated with transitional passageways between canaliculi and bile ductules, were observed. Alterations included: attenuation/dilation of bile canaliculi, bile preductular lesions, hydropic vacuolation of hepatocytes and BPDECs, mild BPDEC hypertrophy, and biliary epithelial cell (BEC) hyperplasia. Ex vivo histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies were employed to aid in interpretation of, and verify, in vivo findings. 3D reconstructions from in vivo investigations provided quantitative morphometric and volumetric evaluation of ANIT exposed and untreated livers. The findings presented show for the first time in vivo evaluation of toxicity in the STII medaka hepatobiliary system, and, in conjunction with prior in vivo work characterizing normalcy, advance our comparative understanding of this lower vertebrate hepatobiliary system and its response to toxic insult.

An in vivo look at vertebrate liver architecture: three-dimensional reconstructions from medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Understanding three-dimensional (3D) hepatobiliary architecture is fundamental to elucidating structure/function relationships relevant to hepatobiliary metabolism, transport, and toxicity. To date, factual information on vertebrate liver architecture in 3 dimensions has remained limited. Applying noninvasive in vivo imaging to a living small fish animal model we elucidated, and present here, the 3D architecture of this lower vertebrate liver. Our investigations show that hepatobiliary architecture in medaka is based on a polyhedral (hexagonal) structural motif, that the intrahepatic biliary system is an interconnected network of canaliculi and bile-preductules, and that parenchymal architecture in this lower vertebrate is more related to that of the mammalian liver than previously believed. The in vivo findings presented advance our comparative 3D understanding of vertebrate liver structure/function, help clarify previous discrepancies among vertebrate liver conceptual models, and pose interesting questions regarding the "functional unit" of the vertebrate liver.

Determination of xenobiotic intrinsic clearance in freshly isolated hepatocytes from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and rat and its application in bioaccumulation assessment

Bioaccumulation in fish depends on the dynamics of various processes that involve fish uptake, storage, and elimination of xenobiotics. Elimination via fish biotransformation is a primary process that can be evaluated in an in vitro system to improve the performance of the prediction of xenobiotic bioaccumulation potentials. In this study, values of intrinsic clearance (CLint) of seven reference compounds (atrazine, molinate, 4,4-bis(dimethylamino)-benzophenone, 4-nonylphenol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, trifluralin, benzo(a)pyrene) in hepatocytes freshly isolated from rainbow trout and rat were determined using a substrate depletion approach. Atrazine was metabolized in rat hepatocytes with a CLint value of 3.81 +/- 1.96 mL/h/ 10(6) cells, whereas in trout hepatocytes, the clearance was not significant until very high cell concentration was used and the rate was estimated to be approximately 0.002 mL/h/10(6) cells. Intrinsic clearance values for all other compounds were 5.5-78.5-fold lower in trout hepatocytes than those in rat hepatocytes. Trout hepatic clearance (CL(H)) values were extrapolated from the CLint values using a "well-stirred" liver model. Biotransformation rate constants (kMET) of the compounds in trout were subsequently estimated and used as inputs to a kinetic model for the prediction of bioconcentration factors (BCF) in fish. Compared to the BCF values predicted without consideration of fish biotransformation, the inclusion of estimated kMET values significantly improved fish BCF predictions for the reference compounds. This study demonstrates a framework for future bioaccumulation assessment of xenobiotics using combined information of the physical-chemical properties of the compounds and the biotransformation potentials of the compounds in fish.

Spatial relationships of the intrahepatic vascular–biliary tracts and associated pancreatic acini of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Teleostei, Cichlidae): A serial section study by light microscopy

Reports on teleost liver morphology reflect both controversial and confirmed interspecies variations. Choosing Nile tilapia as a model, we described the histology and 3D organization of all types of vascular-biliary tracts and their spatial relationships from the organ hilum toward the hepatic vein opening(s). The portal tracts entering the hilum, termed pancreatic-venous-biliary-arteriolar tracts (P-VBAT), are associated with pancreocytes and have an afferent axially located vein, plus biliary duct(s) and small artery(ies). The P-VBAT gradually disappears toward the anterior (efferent) end of the liver; those tracts ramify and originate new types of tracts, which may carry one type of element (vascular or biliary) or groups of two, in all possible combinations. Most tracts carrying afferent veins had pancreocytes, thus forming (pancreatic-venous tracts (P-VT), pancreatic-venous-biliary tracts (P-VBT), and pancreatic-venous-arteriolar tracts (P-VAT). There were terminal (and smaller) afferent isolated veins that had no associated pancreocytes. Also, the pancreatic sleeve of a vein could end abruptly or attenuate and disappear, reappearing in distal portions of the same vein. Thus, veins without pancreatic covering as seen in sections are not always efferent. Small arterioles can enter the liver retrogradely, via the adventitia of efferent hepatic veins, thus forming venous-arteriolar tracts (VAT). In comparison with the salmonid-liver type, there were no VBAT without associated pancreocytes and there was a smaller degree of ambiguity in identification of the afferent vs. efferent veins. Thus, the tilapine-liver type is proposed to be a more promising model for studying hepatic metabolic zonation in fish, defined not as in mammals, but eventually considering a gradient radiating from the hilum. Our data and differences from mammals supported the adequacy of the previously proposed nomenclature for the vascular-biliary tracts of fish livers, extending it to those that contain the exocrine pancreas.

In vitro-in vivo extrapolation of quantitative hepatic biotransformation data for fish. I. A review of methods, and strategies for incorporating intrinsic clearance estimates into chemical kinetic models

Scientists studying mammals have developed a stepwise approach to predict in vivo hepatic clearance from measurements of in vitro hepatic biotransformation. The resulting clearance estimates have been used to screen drug candidates, investigate idiosyncratic drug responses, and support chemical risk assessments. In this report, we review these methods, discuss their potential application to studies with fish, and describe how extrapolated values could be incorporated into well-known compartmental kinetic models. Empirical equations that relate extrapolation factors to chemical log K(ow) are given to facilitate the incorporation of metabolism data into bioconcentration and bioaccumulation models. Because they explicitly incorporate the concept of clearance, compartmental clearance-volume models are particularly well suited for incorporating hepatic clearance estimates. The manner in which these clearance values are incorporated into a given model depends, however, on the measurement frame of reference. Procedures for the incorporation of in vitro biotransformation data into physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) models are also described. Unlike most compartmental models, PBTK models are developed to describe the effects of metabolism in the tissue where it occurs. In addition, PBTK models are well suited to modeling metabolism in more than one tissue.

Temperature and gender influences on the hepatic stroma (and associated pancreatic acini) of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (Teleostei, Cichlidae): A stereological analysis by light microscopy

The normal organ morphology and function in fishes varies according to several natural factors, and such variability is found in liver. Knowledge about the normal liver microanatomy is fundamental to pathological evaluation. Even though gender and temperature are important factors for modulating morphophysiological processes in fishes, their influences on liver stroma are virtually unknown. Because temperature- and gender-related changes exist in liver parenchyma, we predict both factors should also influence the normal stromal structure. Using Nile tilapia as a model, we undertook a study to: 1) establish baseline quantitative structural data on the hepatic stroma (and intimately associated pancreatic acini); 2) compare data with those available from other species, namely, salmonids that do not have a liver with pancreatic acini; and 3) test our hypothesis that, within normal healthy limits, the stroma and its structural components may vary significantly with temperature and gender. We used 1-year-old male and female specimens acclimated to 17 degrees C (breeding noncompatible) and 27 degrees C (breeding compatible) for 45 days. Basic morphometric fish parameters were recorded. After estimation of liver volume, the organ was sliced and pieces systematically sampled for light microscopy. Stereology allowed estimation of the relative volumes of organ components. The total volumes were computed by combining the relative volumes with the total liver volumes. Nile tilapia of both genders, held at 17 vs. 27 degrees C, showed structural quantitative differences in the relative volumes of stroma and most of its components, and in the total volumes of certain stromal elements. The total volume of the stroma and of associated pancreatic acini did not differ. We first established that, in fishes, the total amount (volume) of liver biliary ducts and of eosinophilic granule cells might significantly change (increase and decrease, respectively) with a higher acclimation temperature. Indeed, virtually all the stereological changes were, essentially, temperature- and not gender-related. At 27 degrees C, parallel changes in the parenchyma caused a decreased liver volume and hepatic-somatic index (HSI). The relative volumetric proportion of stroma vs. parenchyma in tilapia is higher than in salmonids. The differences found in this study could not be detected with a qualitative approach, thus stressing the importance of using stereology for analyzing histological patterns and for establishing reliable baseline values in healthy conditions. It was also anticipated that in experimental settings with fish the baseline liver stromal architecture may be different according to temperature and breeding status; in consequence, the effects of the tested variable may also diverge. Our data do not fully explain the lower liver volume and HSI at 27 degrees C, thus justifying studies on the parenchyma, particularly on cell size and number.

Cytomorphological alterations of the thymus, spleen, head-kidney, and liver in cardinal fish (Apogonidae, Teleostei) as bioindicators of stress

Morphological and cytological alterations at the light microscope (LM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) levels were observed in the thymus, spleen, head-kidney, and liver of cardinal fishes (Apogonidae, Teleostei) from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, sampled from a strongly polluted site at the northern end of the gulf, and compared to similar samples from a clean, reference site. At the polluted site, the most prominent change was the formation of numerous deposits of cells rich in phagosomes with lipofucin, melanin granules, and phagocytosed debris, including a high increase in number and dimensions of Hassall's corpuscles and melano-macrophage centers. The number of Hassall's corpuscles was 20 (+/-8.0)/mm(2) and of melano-macrophage centers 18 (+/-4.0)/mm(2) at the polluted site, and 7.0 (+/-4.0)/m(2) vs. 5.0 (+/-2.0)/mm(2) respectively at the reference site. In numerous instances the head kidney's melano-macrophage centers in fishes from the polluted site were encapsulated by reticulocytes, a phenomenon recognized as a marker of neoplasmosis and possible malignancy. In the spleens of fishes from the polluted site, numerous deposits of cell debris, peroxisomes, and enlarged lysosomes were also observed. The livers (hepatopancreas) of fishes from polluted waters demonstrated very strong hyperlipogeny. Many of their hepatocytes were laden with lipid vesicles, fragmented endoplasmic reticulula, and aberrant mitochondria. Although the observed alterations in the glands and liver do not indicate any immediate threat to the life of the fish, they can become crucial with respect to energy turnover and fecundity trajectories. This study strongly suggests the use of cytological alterations in vital organs, such as were observed, as pathological biomarkers to environmental stress.

Comparative Histological Study of Teleost Livers in Relation to Phylogeny

This report presents a detailed description of hepatic architecture in 200 teleost livers by light microscopy and extensively discusses the phylogenetic viewpoint. The 200 teleost livers showed a great variety of histological images, but not the same image, as in mammalian livers. The hepatocyte-sinusoidal structures of the fish livers were classified into three different types: (a) cord-like form, (b) tubular form, (c) solid form. Biliary tract structures were classified into four types: (a) isolated type, (b) biliary-arteriolar tract (BAT) type, (c) biliary-venous tract (BVT) type, and (d) portal tract type. As phylogenic advancement is graded from low to high, the parenchymal arrangement progressed from solid or tubular form to cord-like form, but the biliary tract structures were not involved. We demonstrate that this study is the first to investigate teleost livers phylogenically, and their architectural differences are shown in the route of hepatic ontogenesis. In hepatic ontogenesis, the formation of the parenchymal arrangement is acquired phylogenically, but the biliary pathway may be adapted in the ecological and behavioral patterns.

Histopathological alterations and induction of cytochrome P-450 1A in the liver and gills of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been demonstrated in the seabream Sparus aurata specimens. Liver presented hepatocytic alterations, with an increase of lipid droplets and glycogen granules. Ultrastructural modifications of hepatocytes included RER fractionation, glycogen augmentation, as well as a rise in the number of lipid droplets, vacuoles and secondary lysosomes. In the gills, secondary lamellar epithelium showed hyperplasia, hypertrophy and lamellar fusion on the edge of the filaments. At the end of the exposure period (1 pg1(-1) TCDD for 20 days), some organelles in epithelial cells of the secondary lamellae and the tubular system of the chloride cells appeared altered. In the liver of TCDD-exposed specimens, immunoreactive cytochrome P-450 1A was concentrated close to the cytoplasmic and nuclear membranes, and positive granules were also evident throughout cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Significant cytochrome P-450 staining was especially evident in endothelium of the hepatic vascular system. At the beginning of the exposure (1 pg 1(-1) TCDD, for 5 and 10 days), cytochrome P-450 immunostaining was observed in the cytoplasm of scarce hepatic cells and after 20 days of treatment, specific immunostained cytoplasmic granules were detected in most hepatocytes. In gills of TCDD-treated specimens, pillar-endothelial cells showed a cytochrome P-450 1A immunostaining concentrated close to the base of gill filaments and dispersed through the gill lamellae. There was also significant cytochrome staining of the endothelium of the branchial vascular system. However, no cytochrome immunoreactivity was observed in epithelial-respiratory cells.

Glutathione S-transferases from rainbow trout liver and freshly isolated hepatocytes: purification and characterization

Glutathione S-transferases (GST) form an important family of biotransformation enzymes catalyzing the conjugation of glutathione to a great variety of xenobiotic compounds. The objective of this study was to compare the different characteristics of GST from freshly isolated rainbow trout hepatocytes with those corresponding to the total liver of the same fish, in order to establish the similarities. GST was purified by affinity chromatography and enzymatic activity was determined towards two substrates, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and ethacrynic acid (ETHA). The different isoenzymes were determined by HPLC associated with SDS-PAGE. Slight differences between the samples were obtained when the results corresponding to the enzyme activity were compared. HPLC results showed that all GST isoforms present in the total liver samples were represented in the isolated cells too, corresponding to isoforms with molecular masses of approximately 25.5 and 23.0 kDa.

A field study on EROD activity and quantitative hepatocytological changes in an immature demersal fish

Demersal fish, Solea ovata, were sampled from a reference site and a site where highly contaminated sediment is dumped. Sexually immature fish from the contaminated site exhibited significantly higher EROD activity compared with counterparts sampled from the reference site. No significant difference in EROD activity could be found for sexually mature males and females between sites. The relationship between EROD activity and quantitative changes in hepatic lipofuscin/ceroid, as well as peroxisome, was investigated for immature S. ovata. A significant correlation was found between EROD activity and volume density of lipofuscin/ceroid in fish hepatocyte (r = 0.750; P < 0.05), but no significant correlation was discernible between EROD activity and peroxisomes. Results from this field study corroborate our earlier laboratory findings, in which induction of EROD activity by intraperitoneal injection of benzo[a]pyrene was associated with increase in absolute volume and absolute number of lipofuscin/ceroid in hepatocytes. The present study provides further evidence that induction of EROD activity is associated with an increase in hepatic lipofuscin/ceroid and possibly cytological damages in immature S. ovata. This cytological change may serve as a potential marker for exposure to PAHs and PCBs.

Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) in teleostean fishes. A review of immunohistochemical studies

Cytochrome P4501A monooxygenase has an important function in the biotransformation of many xenobiotics, including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and planar organochlorine compounds. The metabolism can lead to detoxification or activation to reactive intermediates. Exposure of fish leads to a receptor-mediated induction of CYP1A gene expression. The induction response can be quantitatively analysed by means of molecular techniques (RT-PCR, Northern Blotting), immunochemical approaches (ELISA, Western Blotting), and enzymatic methods (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, EROD) at the catalytical level. Immunohistochemical studies have provided qualitative information on cell and tissue distribution of CYP1A in teleost fish. The liver is the major organ of CYP1A activity in fish, but the enzyme is additionally expressed in numerous extrahepatic organs, including kidney, alimentary canal, heart, gills, olfactory system, gonads, brain and endocrine tissues. In many tissues, the vascular endothelia show a strong CYP1A immunoreactivity. As indicated from immunohistochemical studies with fish embryos and larvae, the typical cell and tissue distribution of CYP1A is established early during fish ontogeny.

Partial hepatectomy and bile duct ligation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): histologic, immunohistochemical and enzyme histochemical characterization of hepatic regeneration and biliary hyperplasia

Hepatic regeneration following partial hepatectomy (PH) and biliary hyperplasia subsequent to bile duct ligation (BDL) were characterized in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by light microscopy using routine and special (immunohistochemical and enzyme histochemical) stains. Both PH and BDL involved initial hypertrophy and hyperplasia of bile preductular epithelial cells (BPDECs). BPDECs are small oval cells that form junctional complexes with hepatocytes and bile ductular cells and are commonly found in hepatic tubules of teleost liver. Proliferating BPDECs transitioned through intermediate cell types before final differentiation into large basophilic hepatocytes (following PH) or biliary epithelial cells (after BDL). Normal BPDECs and hepatocytes were both negative for cytokeratin intermediate filaments in control fish when screened with the monoclonal antibody AE1/AE3. In contrast, hyperplastic BPDECs and their progeny (intermediate cells, immature hepatocytes, ductal epithelial cells) were all strongly cytokeratin positive. Cytokeratin expression was transient in newly differentiated hepatocytes (expression decreased as hepatocytes acquired characteristics consistent with full differentiation) but was permanent in biliary epithelial cells (expression was very strong in large mature ducts). BPDECs, intermediate cells, and immature ductal cells were also strongly positive for alkaline phosphatase following BDL. Chronology of histologic events and cytokeratin and enzyme expression all support the hypothesis that BPDECs possess the capacity to differentiate into either hepatocytes or biliary epithelial cells. Thus, BPDECs may be the teleost equivalent of a bipolar hepatic stem cell in mammals.

Immunochemical approaches to studies of CYP1A localization and induction by xenobiotics in fish

There is an increasing understanding that polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine compounds (like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), certain pesticides and dioxins) in the aquatic environment may lead to physiological and pathological effects such as immunological disturbances, effects on reproduction and development, and even neoplasms. Exposure to pollutants may have consequences at all levels in the biological organization, from the cellular level over effects on the individual organism, population, to the entire ecosystem. The cytochrome P450 system (CYP or P450) has an essential function in the biotransformation of endogenous and exogenous compounds. The fact that many different environmental pollutants induce de novo synthesis of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) proteins in fish, gives these enzymes an interesting position in aquatic toxicology. Many investigations concerning the CYP1A system in fish have been performed over the last two decades, demonstrating its usefulness as a biomarker for aquatic pollution. A general overview of the biochemical and toxicological aspects concerning the cytochrome P450 system will be given here, followed by a more detailed description of CYP1A induction responses in fish. Ecotoxicological consequences of CYP1A induction and the use of immunochemical techniques for CYP1A detection as a biomarker in environmental monitoring will be discussed.

Architectural pattern, tissue and cellular morphology in livers of fishes: relationship to experimentally-induced neoplastic responses

The teleost liver is one of the most sensitive organs to show alteration in biochemistry, physiology and structure following exposure to various types of environmental pollutants. Despite the importance of this organ to environmental toxicology and to ecotoxicology where biomarkers of exposure and of deleterious effect are found, the architectural pattern is not well known. This chapter reviews an architectural plan for teleost liver and compares that to the often cited mammalian pattern. Hepatic tubules composed principally of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells are in close proximity to lacunae which are of mesodermal origin. As is described, the tubule and lacunae concepts provide a means to better interpret morphologic alterations following exposure. These concepts are used to illustrate features of the chronic toxicity following exposure to proven carcinogens.

Viability and differential function of rainbow trout liver cells in primary culture: coculture with two permanent fish cells

The study investigates the influence of different culture conditions on attachment, viability and functional status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver cells in primary culture. Cells were isolated by a two-step collagenase perfusion and incubated in serum-free, chemically defined minimal essential medium (MEM), (a) as a monolayer on uncoated PRIMARIA dishes, (b) as a monolayer on culture dishes coated with calf collagen type 1, and (c) in coculture with the established fish cell lines RTH-149 or RTG-2. Cell attachment was assessed from DNA and protein concentrations per dish, viability was estimated from cellular lactate dehydrogenase release, and the metabolic status was investigated by measuring activities of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and biotransformation enzymes as well as the total cytochrome P450 contents. Seeding of hepatocytes on collagen-coated dishes did not alter cell attachment or detachment from the (culture substrate, but had a small, but not significant effect on cell viability and metabolic parameters. Coculture of liver cells and RTG-2 cells reduced hepatocyte detachment from the culture substrate, and it was associated with a significant elevation of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activities in the hepatic cells. Cytochrome P450 contents, however, were not altered. The coculture effect on liver cell physiology clearly depended on the type of cell line, because coculture with RTH-149 cells led to similar, but much weaker effects than obtained in cocultures with RTG-2 cells. Electron microscopical observations revealed the existence of gap junctions and possible exocytosis-like transport between cell lines and hepatocytes. The results point to the potential of coculture systems to improve physiological parameters of trout liver cells in primary culture.

Liver of the brown trout, Salmo trutta (Teleostei, Salmonidae): a stereological study at light and electron microscopic levels

BACKGROUND

A quantitative study was undertaken for the first time on the normal liver of male and female 2-year-old brown trout, Salmo trutta.

METHODS

Liver was fixed by controlled perfusion. Organ-level morphometry provided weight and volume. A two-stage stereological approach was performed at light and electron microscopy levels. Systematic sampling and point-counting morphometry were used for estimating the relative volumes of the structural compartments. Total absolute volumes of these components were obtained by multiplying each volume density by the volume of its reference space.

RESULTS

Liver volume was 3,423.6 mm3 for males and 3,657.4 mm3 for females. Parenchyma accounted for 95% of hepatic volume. Veins and bile ducts occupied, respectively, 76% and 17% of the stroma, whereas arteries, connective tissue, and melanomacrophages together composed only 6%. Hepatocytes occupied 88% of the parenchyma. Nonhepatocytic cells (endothelium, biliary epithelial cells, Ito cells, and macrophages) composed 4% of the parenchyma, the capillary lumen 6%, and other spaces (Disse space, canaliculi, and lumina of preductules and ductules) composed 2%. Significant sexual differences were found: (1) Females showed a greater parenchymal volume density (0.85% vs. 0.35%) and absolute volume (29.5 mm2 vs. 11.7 mm3) of Ito cells; (2) macrophages of females also presented a greater parenchymal volume density (0.94% vs. 0.46%), but not absolute volume.

CONCLUSIONS

The need to analyze both relative and absolute stereological data was stressed. Similarities and differences were detected between brown trout and other species (fishes and mammals); the findings suggest that, despite architectural differences, some quantitative parameters of liver microanatomy were retained during phylogeny. Factors mediating sexual differences in Ito cells and macrophages were discussed and the need for further studies was highlighted.

Isolation and characterization of biliary epithelial cells from rainbow trout liver

Lectin binding and density gradient centrifugation were explored for isolating epithelial cells from trout liver. Hepatocytes exhibited preferential attachment of coverslips coated with Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin. Biliary epithelial cells attached with glycine max agglutinin; however, significant attachment of cellular debris limited the use of glycine max agglutinin. Percoll-density gradient centrifugation separated liver cells into two distinct populations with biliary cells and hepatocytes banding at densities of 1.04 and 1.09, respectively. A discontinuous gradient composed of 13% Ficoll (wt/wt) separated biliary cells from hepatocytes. The recovery of highly enriched biliary epithelial cells from trout liver using Ficoll gradients yielded approximately 8 million cells (0.1 ml packed cells) from 10 g liver. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the cytokeratin profile for extracts from biliary epithelial cell-enriched populations differ significantly from those seen with whole liver extracts or with extracts with hepatocyte-enriched populations. Ficoll-gradient purified biliary cells and hepatocytes attached to culture plates coated with trout skin extract and carried out linear incorporation of leucine into protein and thymidine into DNA for 24 h. A mixture of growth hormones (insulin, epidermal growth factor, and dexamethasone) stimulated thymidine incorporation into DNA; however, long-term culture of dividing biliary epithelial cells was not achieved. Chemical analysis of neutral and acidic glycolipids indicated that hepatocytes and biliary cells have similar glycolipid profiles with an exception in the region of GM3 mobility, which is attributed to differences in the ceramide moiety. These studies provide a starting point for further characterization of unique cell types of the trout liver that may be important in their responses to toxic and carcinogenic agents.

A sequential study of the light and electron microscopic liver lesions of infectious anemia in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The present study describes light and electron microscopic changes in the liver of Atlantic salmon during the development of infectious salmon anemia (ISA). Atlantic salmon postsmolts weighing 80-100 g were infected by intraperitoneal injections, and liver samples were collected sequentially between day 0 and day 25 post infection (p.i.), with time intervals of 3-4 days. At each collection time, livers from five infected fish and two control fish were examined. Changes involving the perisinusoidal macrophages were observed by transmission electron microscopy, from day 4 p.i. Large vacuoles, containing a fine-granular material with low electron density, accumulated in the cytoplasm. These changes persisted and became more severe throughout the investigation, leading to a considerable increase in the size of the cells. At day 14 p.i., degenerative features of the sinusoidal endothelium were observed. By day 18 p.i., areas of the liver were devoid of a sinusoidal endothelial lining, bringing hepatocytes in direct contact with blood cells. At this stage, the sinusoids were moderately congested. From day 21 p.i., heavy sinusoidal congestion, peliosis hepatis, and degeneration of the hepatocytes were observed. No virus was observed in any of the inhabitant cell types of the liver. Gross and light microscopic changes were first recorded at day 18 p.i., as was a significant decrease in the hematocrit values. By day 25 p.i., characteristic multifocal, confluent, hemorrhagic necroses were present. Results of the present investigation suggest that the liver lesions observed with ISA are not the result of the development of an anemia alone or caused by direct viral damage to hepatocytes. Hepatocellular degeneration succeeded changes in the perisinusoidal macrophages and degeneration of the sinusoidal endothelium. These changes may have impeded the sinusoidal blood flow and hence caused an ischemic hepatocellular necrosis.