Scanning electron microscopy of the operculum of Garra lamta (Hamilton) (Cyprinidae : Cypriniformes), an Indian hill stream fish
Swati Mittal A , Usha Kumari A , Pinky Tripathi A and Ajay Kumar Mittal A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Skin Physiology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India.
B Corresponding author. Email: profakmittal@gmail.com or akmittalprof@yahoo.co.in
Australian Journal of Zoology 58(3) 182-188 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09082
Submitted: 7 August 2009 Accepted: 11 July 2010 Published: 23 September 2010
Abstract
The surface architecture of the epidermis on the outer surface of the operculum (OE) and the epithelium on the inner surface of the operculum (EISO) of Garra lamta was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The surface appeared smooth on the OE and wavy on the EISO. A wavy epithelium is considered to facilitate an increase in its stretchability, during the expansion of the branchial chamber. The OE and the EISO were covered by a mosaic pavement of epithelial cells with characteristic patterns of microridges and microbridges. Interspersed between the epithelial cells were mucous goblet cell pores, which were not significantly different in number in the OE and the EISO. Nevertheless, their surface area in the EISO was significantly higher than in the OE. This could be an adaptation to secrete higher amounts of mucus on the EISO for keeping the branchial chamber lining clean, avoiding clogging, the increased slipperiness reducing friction from water flow and increased efficiency in protecting against microbial attachments. Rounded bulges on the OE and the EISO were associated with mucous goblet cells. The absence of the taste buds in the EISO, in contrast to the OE, suggests that their function in the branchial chamber may not be of much significance in this fish. Breeding tubercles on the OE are believed to facilitate better contact between the male and female during breeding.
Acknowledgements
We thank Professor Shashi Wadhwa, Officer-in-charge, Mr Rajesh Pathania, Technical Officer, and the staff of Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility (DST), Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, for extending invaluable help in using the Electron Microscope Facility, which enabled us to carry out SEM studies. Usha Kumari was supported as Research Associate sponsored by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. We hereby declare that the experiments comply with the current laws of the country (India) in which they were performed.
References
Agrawal, N. , and Mittal, A. K. (1991). Epithelium of lips and associated structures of the Indian major carp, Catla catla. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 37, 363–373.
Fishelson, L. (1984). A comparative study of ridge-mazes on surface epithelial cell/membranes of fish scales (Pisces, Teleostei). Zoomorphologie 104, 231–238.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garg, T. K. , and Mittal, A. K. (1990). The epidermal and inner epithelial lining of the operculum in Clarias batrachus (Clariidae, Siluriformes). Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 37, 149–157.
Garg, T. K. , Deepa, V. , and Mittal, A. K. (1995). Surface architecture of the opercular epidermis and epithelium lining the inner surface of the operculum of a walking catfish, Clarias batrachus. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 42, 181–185.
Hora, S. L. (1934). A note on the biology of the precipita reaction of the mucus of boro fish, Pisodonophis boro (Ham. Buch). Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 29, 271–274.
Hubbs, C. L. , and Cooper, G. P. (1936). Minnows of Michigan. Bulletin of Cranbrook Institute of Science 8, 1–84.
Hughes, G. M. (1979). Scanning electron microscopy of the respiratory surfaces of trout gills. Journal of Zoology 188, 443–453.
Karlsson, L. (1983). Gill morphology in the zebra fish, Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan). Journal of Fish Biology 23, 511–524.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Karnaky, K. J. , and Kinter, W. B. (1977). Killifish opercular skin: a flat epithelium with a high density of chloride cells. The Journal of Experimental Zoology 199, 355–364.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Katoh, F. , Hasegawa, S. , Kita, J. , Takagi, Y. , and Kaneko, T. (2001). Distinct seawater and freshwater types of chloride cells in killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79, 822–829.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kumari, U. , Yashpal, M. , Mittal, S. , and Mittal, A. K. (2005). Morphology of the pharyngeal cavity, especially the surface ultrastructure of gill arches and gill rakers in relation to the feeding ecology of the catfish Rita rita (Siluriformes, Bagridae). Journal of Morphology 265, 197–208.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Kumari, U. , Yashpal, M. , Mittal, S. , and Mittal, A. K. (2009). Histochemical analysis of glycoproteins in the secretory cells in the gill epithelium of a catfish, Rita rita (Siluriformes, Bagridae). Tissue & Cell 41, 271–280.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Marshall, W. S. , and Bryson, S. E. (1998). Transport mechanisms of seawater teleost chloride cells: an inclusive model of a multifunctional cell. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 119A, 95–105.
Marshall, W. S. , Bryson, S. E. , Darling, P. , Whitten, C. , Patrick, M. , Wilkie, M. , Wood, C. M. , and Buckland-Nicks, J. (1997). NaCl transport and ultrastructure of opercular epithelium from a freshwater-adapted euryhaline teleost, Fundulus heteroclitus. The Journal of Experimental Zoology 277, 23–37.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mazon, A. F. , Nolan, D. T. , Lock, R. A. C. , Bonga, S. E. W. , and Fernandes, M. N. (2007). Opercular epithelial cells: a simple approach for in vivo studies of cellular responses in fish. Toxicology 230, 53–63.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Mittal, A. K. , and Whitear, M. (1978). A note on cold anaesthesia of poikilotherms. Journal of Fish Biology 13, 519–520.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mittal, A. K. , Ueda, T. , Fujimori, O. , and Yamada, K. (1994a). Histochemical analysis of glycoproteins in the epidermal mucous cells and sacciform cells of an Indian swamp eel Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton) (Synbranchiformes, Pisces). Acta Histochemica et Cytochemica 27, 193–204.
Mittal, A. K. , Ueda, T. , Fujimori, O. , and Yamada, K. (1994b). Histochemical analysis of glycoproteins in the unicellular glands in the epidermis of an Indian freshwater fish Mastacembelus pancalus (Hamilton). The Histochemical Journal 26, 666–677.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Mittal, A. K. , Garg, T. K. , and Verma, M. (1995). Surface architecture of the skin of the Indian catfish Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton) (Sisoridae: Siluriformes). Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 42, 187–191.
Mittal, S. , Pinky, , and Mittal, A. K. (2002). Characterisation of glycoproteins in the secretory cells in the operculum of an Indian hill stream fish Garra lamta (Hamilton) (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 26, 275–288.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mittal, S. , Pinky, , and Mittal, A. K. (2004). Operculum of peppered loach, Lepidocephalichthys guntea (Hamilton, 1822) (Cobitidae, Cypriniformes): a scanning electron microscopic and histochemical investigation. Belgian Journal of Zoology 134, 9–15.
Ojha, J. , and Hughes, G. M. (1988). Scanning electron microscopy of the gills of a freshwater catfish Rita rita. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 35, 56–61.
Ojha, J. , and Singh, S. K. (1992). Functional morphology of the anchorage system and food scrapers of a hill stream fish, Garra lamta (Ham.) (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes). Journal of Fish Biology 41, 159–161.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinky, , Mittal, S. , Ojha, J. , and Mittal, A. K. (2002). Scanning electron microscopic study of the structures associated with lips of an Indian hill stream fish Garra lamta (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes). European Journal of Morphology 40, 161–169.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinky, , Mittal, S. , Yashpal, M. , Ojha, J. , and Mittal, A. K. (2004). Occurrence of keratinisation in the structures associated with lips of a hill stream fish Garra lamta (Hamilton) (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes). Journal of Fish Biology 65, 1165–1172.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Raney, C. (1947). Subspecies and breeding behaviour of the cyprinid fish Notropis procne (Cope). Copeia 1947, 103–109.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reighard, J. (1903). The function of the pearl organs of the Cyprinidae. Science 17, 531.
Reighard, J. (1904). Further observations on the breeding habits and on the function of the pearl organs in several species of Eventognathi. Science 19, 211–212.
Reighard, J. (1910a). The pearl organs of American minnows in their relation to the factors of descent. Science 31, 472.
Reighard, J. (1910b). Methods of studying the habits of fishes with an account of the breeding tubercles of the horned dace. Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Fisheries 28, 1111–1136.
Reutter, K. , Breipohl, W. , and Bijvank, G. J. (1974). Taste bud types in fishes. II. Scanning electron microscopical investigations on Xiphophorus helleri Heckel (Poeciliidae, Cyprinodontiformes, Teleostei). Cell and Tissue Research 153, 151–165.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Roberts, T. R. (1982). Unculi (horny projections arising from single cells), an adaptive feature of the epidermis of ostariophysan fishes. Zoologica Scripta 11, 55–76.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rosen, M. W. , and Cornford, N. E. (1971). Fluid friction of fish slimes. Nature 234, 49–51.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott, G. R. , Claiborne, J. B. , Edwards, S. L. , Schulte, P. M. , and Wood, C. M. (2005). Gene expression after freshwater transfer in gills and opercular epithelia of killifish: insight into divergent mechanisms of ion transport. The Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 2719–2729.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Scott, G. R. , Baker, D. W. , Schulte, P. M. , and Wood, C. M. (2008). Physiological and molecular mechanisms of osmoregulatory plasticity in killifish after seawater transfer. The Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 2450–2459.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Shieh, Y. , Tsai, R. , and Hwang, P. (2003). Morphological modification of mitochondria-rich cells of the opercular epithelium of fresh water tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, acclimated to low chloride levels. Zoological Studies 42, 522–528.
Uchida, K. , Kaneko, T. , Miyazaki, H. , Hasegawa, S. , and Hirano, T. (2000). Excellent salinity tolerance of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): elevated chloride cell activity in the branchial and opercular epithelia of the fish adapted to concentrated seawater. Zoological Sciences 17, 149–160.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitear, M. (1990). Causative aspects of microridges on the surface of fish epithelia. Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology 22, 211–220.
Whitear, M. , and Moate, R. M. (1994). Microanatomy of taste buds in the dogfish, Scyliorbinus canicula. Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology 26, 357–367.
Wiley, M. L. , and Collette, B. B. (1970). Breeding tubercles and contact organs in fishes: their occurrence, structure and significance. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 143, 143–216.
Wood, C. M. , and Marshall, W. S. (1994). Ion balance, acid–base regulation, and chloride cell function in the common killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus – a euryhaline estuarine teleost. Estuaries 17, 34–52.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yashpal, M. , Kumari, U. , Mittal, S. , and Mittal, A. K. (2007). Histochemical characterization of glycoproteins in the buccal epithelium of a catfish, Rita rita. Acta Histochemica 109, 285–303.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Yashpal, M. , Kumari, U. , Mittal, S. , and Mittal, A. K. (2009). Morphological specialization of the buccal cavity in relation to the food and feeding habit of a carp Cirrhinus mrigala: a scanning electron microscopic investigation. Journal of Morphology 270, 714–728.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
