Structural, ultrastructural, and functional aspects of the skin of the upper lip of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Structural and ultrastructural aspects of the skin of large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea

The skin color of the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is a crucial indicator to determine its economic value. However, the location of pigment cells in the skin structure is uncertain. To determine the pigment cell type in the skin, the vertical order and ultrastructure of pigment cells were examined using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Both dorsal and ventral skins comprise the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Xanthophores, melanophores, and iridophores were observed in the dermis of the dorsal skin, whereas the latter two were in the dermis of the ventral skin. Interestingly, the size of xanthophores in the dorsal skin was significantly smaller than that of xanthophores in the ventral skin; however, the density of dorsal xanthophores was significantly higher than that of ventral xanthophores. The type L-iridophores with large crystalline structures were observed in the uppermost area of the upper pigment layer, which contributed to the strikingly metallic luster shown by the ventral skin. The melanophores were exclusively found in the dorsal skin, offering the purpose of camouflage. Taken together, our results indicated that the pigment cells display different arrangement patterns between dorsal and ventral skin, and the golden color in the ventral skin results from the coexistence of light-reflecting iridophores and light-absorbing xanthophores.

Histological and immunohistochemical study of gilthead seabream tongue from the early stage of development: TRPV4 potential roles

BACKGROUND

Taste buds, the morphofunctional units for taste perception, transduce gustatory stimuli using G protein-coupled receptors, and a complex arrangement of ion channels, among which TRPV4, a member of the TRP superfamily. Studies on taste buds development on gilthead seabream are unknown, and the TRPV4 expression on fish taste cells studies were conducted only on zebrafish.

METHODS

In our study, we have investigated the histological features of the gilthead seabream tongue dorsal surface from the earliest stage of development using Masson trichrome with aniline blue staining. Additionally, TRPV4 expression pattern was studied by means of immunohistochemical labeling and quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS

We have recorded for the first time on gilthead seabream lingual dorsal surface the presence of, stage specific, three types of taste buds: type I, type II and type III in larvae, juvenile and adults respectively. At 40 days post hatching, taste buds were mature-looking. TRPV4 expression was detected in a subpopulation of taste cells of larvae, juveniles, and adults. Furthermore, TRPV4 was expressed in the basal epithelial cells of the tongue at the larvae and juvenile stage, while this expression pattern was more diffused within all the epithelial cell layers on the adult.

CONCLUSION

Our findings presume a taste sensory role of TRPV4 in the three stage-specific taste buds and oral epithelia of gilthead seabream. In addition to its sensory role on the epithelial cell layers, we hypothesize that TRPV4 is implicated in epithelial cells differentiation and membrane protection.

Tanned leather of the paiche Arapaima gigas Schinz, 1822 (Arapaimidae) with extracts of vegetable origin to replace chromium salts

With the intensification of fish farming, the amount of residues also increased. One of the by-products generated is leather. However, several factors influence its quality, among them, the types of tanning used. Paiche (Arapaima gigas) is the largest freshwater fish in the world, and therefore has great potential in the use of leather, in addition to being one of the most cultivated fish in the Rondônia state. The aimed was to evaluate the physicomechanical resistance, histological and morphological aspects in different directions of the fibers of the paiche to evaluate the tanning with chromium oxide and vegetable tannin. Paiches with an average weight of 12.0 kg were used, skins were made and tanned using chromium and vegetable tannin as techniques. After tanning, 20 specimens were removed in longitudinal, transverse and diagonal directions to the fish body, to determine resistance in dynamometer and leather for histological analysis, scanning electron microscopy and physical-chemical analysis. The average thickness of the specimens of the leathers ranged 1.79mm to 2.82mm, in addition, there was no interaction between the type of tanning agent and the directions obtained for strength, traction and elongation. Regarding the progressive tearing test, there was also no interaction effect. However, the defined factors had relevant differences for the maximum and average amount applied, and the leathers tanned with vegetable tannin expanded to larger dimensions 110.19 and 85.52 N. According to the images obtained by histology and scanning microscopy, they presented that in the longitudinal and transverse direction the collagen fibers are presented in layers parallel to the leather surface and in the diagonal direction the interlacing is more intense, that is, in addition to the overlapping layers intercalated thinner, close to the surface, fiber bundles can also be seen crossing each other. It is concluded that leathers tanned with vegetable tannin have less resistance than leathers tanned with chromium salts for traction to rupture and greater resistance to tear.

Functional morphology of cardiac stomach of Nile catfish (Clarias gariepinus): Histological, scanning, and ultrastructural studies

The present study was done on 20 adult specimens of Nile catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to demonstrate the morphological characteristics of the cardiac region of the stomach. The cardiac mucosa was characterized by a large number of well-defined long folds. The surface epithelial cells were simple columnar type covered with distinct microvilli and connected by desmosomes. Few PAS- and AB- positive goblet cells were found between the surface epithelium. In addition, many lymphocytes, macrophages, and blood capillaries were seen in the epithelial layer. The lamina propria was exclusively occupied by simple branched gastric (cardiac) glands that fill most of the thickness of the mucosa and open into gastric pits. The gastric glands were composed of numerous secretory tubules that were lined with one type of cells with a cytoplasm containing numerous electron-dense granules, well-developed rER, mitochondria, and a large number of free ribosomes. Moreover, macrophages were distributed in the lamina propria and submucosa. Telocytes were observed in the cardiac region for the first time around the glands, blood vessels, between the muscular layer, and in the serosa. A large number of mast cells could be identified in the submucosa around the blood vessels. The presence of many immune cells in the wall of the cardiac stomach suggests involvement in immune response in addition to its digestive function.