The fine structure of the mesonephros of the lamprey, Entosphenus japonicus Martens

New Data on Nephron Microanatomy and Ultrastructure of Senegal Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)

Simple Summary

Transitional forms of animals between Pisces and Amphibia are interesting to study, as they are the first to begin the development of a new environment - terrestrial. Such a transitional form are amphibious fish. The study of the structure of the nephron, the main structure that performs an osmoregulatory function, makes it possible to build evolutionary series that describe the processes of transition from the aquatic environment to the terrestrial one. Bichirs is a monophyletic group that arose in the Devonian and formed a species complex only in the Neogene. They share features with lungfish and amphibians, which formed convergently in the early stages of evolution. Therefore Bichirs are of great interest as a transitional form of animals. This study presents new data on the nephron age of Polypterus senegalus. Two groups of features are described. The first group consists of ancestral traits that have been preserved in the modern population of P. senegalus and are associated with habitat conditions in the aquatic environment. The second group is a complex of characters associated with the adaptation of P. senegalus to air breathing and periodic ground migrations.

Abstract

This study presents new data on the microanatomy and ultrastructure of Polypterus senegalus nephrons. It was shown that the diameter and ultrastructure of renal corpuscles, a well-developed neck segment, and ultrastructure of two types of epithelial cells of the proximal tubule are ancestral signs of the modern population of P. senegalus associated with habitat conditions in the aquatic environment. The outer diameter of the tubules, the height of the epitheliocytes, the presence of two types of epithelial cells of the intermediate and distal tubules of the corresponding ultrastructure, and a large area of nephrogenic tissue are progressive features of the modern population of P. senegalus, associated with adaptation to air respiration and periodic terrestrial migrations, which were formed at the early stages of evolution of P. senegalus convergently with lungfish and amphibians.

Morphology of the kidney of adult bowfin, Amia calva, with emphasis on "renal chloride cells" in the tubule

The nephron of adult bowfin, Amia calva, was described using light and electron microscopic techniques. The kidney of the bowfin possesses an abundant supply of renal corpuscles with each consisting of a glomerulus and a Bowman's capsule of visceral (podocyte) and parietal layers. No juxtaglomerular apparatus is present. The epithelium of the tubule is continuous with the parietal epithelium and is divisible in descending order into neck, first proximal, second proximal, first distal, second distal, and collecting segments. The tubules drain into a complex system of collecting ducts that ultimately unite with the main excretory duct, the archinephric duct. Mucous cells are the dominant cell throughout the entire ductular system. Nephrostomes are dispersed along the kidney capsule. The neck segment has a ciliated epithelium, and while both proximal segments possess a prominent brush border, the fine structure of the first implies involvement in protein absorption and the second in the transport and reabsorption of solutes. The cells of the first distal segment are characterized by deep infolding of the plasma membrane and a rich supply of mitochondria suggesting the presence of a mechanism for ion transport. The second distal segment is composed of cells resembling the chloride cells of fishes and these cells are present in progressively decreasing numbers in the collecting segment and duct system so that only a few are present in the epithelium of the archinephric duct. The "renal chloride cells" possess an abundant network of smooth tubules and numerous mitochondria with a rich supply of cristae. Glycogen is also a conspicuous component of these cells. The presence of "renal chloride cells" in this freshwater holostean, in other relatively primitive freshwater teleosts, and in larval and adult lampreys is discussed with reference to both phylogeny and the need for a special mechanism for renal ion conservation through absorption.

Secretion of lipoprotein particles by the cells of the kidney proximal segment in the migrating arctic lamprey, Lampetra japonica

The cells of the kidney proximal segment of the migrating arctic lamprey, Lampetra japonica, contain particles of the same size, electron-density and intracellular location as particles identified by others as very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) in the liver and intestine of teleost fishes and lampreys. These particles are synthesized within the cisternae of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and elements of the Golgi complex. They are transferred to the lateral intercellular space and lamina propria by way of the Golgi vesicles and an intracellular channel system. Some particles are discharged into the lumina of the sinusoidal capillaries of the lamina propria. Although the physiological role of lipoprotein secretion in the renal proximal segment cells is unknown, the present observations provide morphological evidence that the kidney of the arctic lampreys synthesizes lipoproteins and releases them into the circulation at the time when they are undertaking their anadromous migration.

Plasma membrane specializations in the cells of the kidney distal segment of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica (von Martens)

The unique and highly specialized structural features of the plasma membrane in the cells of the kidney distal segment of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica, were studied by electron microscopy. The cells of the distal segment are largely filled by a continuous network of cytoplasmic tubules which are derived from the basolateral plasma membrane. Thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas of the membrane of the cytoplasmic tubules show spirally wound parallel rows of particles. The rows are approximately 17 nm apart and are wound at a pitch of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the major axis of the tubules. Another type of membrane specialization was found in the freeze-cleaved surface of the basolateral plasma membrane. It consists of large square aggregations of membrane particles containing 100-400 cuboidal subunits. The distribution of these particles in this cell, as well as in other systems in which they have been noted, suggests a polarization of membrane activity.

The anatomy and blood system of the kidney in the river lamprey, lampetra fluviatilis

The anatomy and blood system of the kidney in the river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, was studied after injecting microfil into nephrons or the arterial system. Renal arteries arose at irregular intervals from the dorsal aorta and gave rise to a regular arrangement of afferent arterioles supplying the network of glomerular capillaries. Nephron units were arranged in two longitudinal series on each side of the glomerular capillaries, with the capsule of each nephron closely related to the capillary network. A short neck segment lead into the convoluted proximal segment, which accounted for over half the length of each nephron and was surrounded by a network of capillaries and sinusoids supplied by efferent glomerular arterioles. The end of each proximal segment formed the descending limb of a nephron loop, which lay parallel to the ascending distal limb and the end of each collecting duct. Peritubular blood flow in this region was generally opposite the flow of tubular fluid and blood eventually drained into large thin-walled sinuses connected to the post-cardinal vein.

Development of the renal corpuscle during metamorphosis in the lamprey

The renal corpuscle of the adult lamprey, Petromyzon marinus L., is formed during the programmed period of metamorphosis. Development is initiated early in this metamorphic period and is marked by the synchronous formation and growth of rudimentary nephron units (RNU) from longitudinal cord of nephrogenictissue extending from the posterior tip of the degenerating larval kidney to the cloaca and connected to the peritoneal epithelium. Detachment of the RNU from the peritoneum involves autolysis and cell death and is accompanied by their branching into five or six hexagonally-arranged nephrons which radiate from the original point of attachment. Differentiation of the epithelial cells at the proximal ends of the nephrons is preceded by the widening of lateral intercellular spaces, the formation of tubular lumina (primitive urinary spaces), the loss of apical cell junctions, and the development of a capillary network with its associated mesangium. With the extension of the capillaries and mesangium between the proximal ends of adjacent undifferentiated nephrons, visceral epithelial cells (podocytes), with long cell processes (trabeculae) and slit membranes, make their appearance. The urinary spaces resulting from this form of development are lined by the epithelium of the dilated ends of the nephrons (nephric capsules). The cells of these capsules differentiate mainly into podocytes, but a few parietal cells connect to the draining tubule. This method of development explains the unique form of the renal corpuscle in the adult lamprey. Despite the type of morphogenesis, this renal corpuscle possesses the fine-structural features seen in the renal corpuscles of other vertebrates.

Oxidative enzymes in the urinary apparatus of several freshwater fishes

The distribution and activities of several oxidative enzymes in the urinary apparatus of five freshwater fish species (river lamprey, lobe finned eel, Prussian carp, rainbow trout and three-spined stickleback) have been studied. Species were selected from three main taxonomic groups: Cyclostomata, Polypterini, Teleostei. Distinctly positive enzyme reactions were only found in the tubular elements of the kidney and the collecting duct-archinephric duct system, with the exception of the generally weak staining intensities of lactate dehydrogenase. The distal tubule normally showed strong to very strong reactions for most of the enzymes investigated. In the epithelial cells of the collecting tubule-collecting duct system, stronger reactions were observed for most of the mitochondrial-bound enzymes, especially succinate dehydrogenase and NADH-diaphorase. For these enzymes, the cells of the archinephric duct reacted strongly positive in Lampetra, Carassius and Gasterosteus. The enzyme patterns of various types of urinary tubules and ducts are compared with results of several morphological studies. In addition, the histochemical findings are discussed in relation to kidney function in different vertebrate groups.