Summary
Sacciform cells containing an acidophilic, proteinaceous secretion, were identified in the epidermis of the brown trout and Arctic char. This cell type increased in number during the chronic stages of infestation by the ectoparasitic flagellate, Ichthyobodo sp., in immature brown trout, and decreased during sexual maturation in male brown trout and char. It is suggested that the salmonid sacciform cell produces a secretion which protects the fish against infestation or damage by skin parasites.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blackstock N, Pickering AD (1980) Acidophilic granular cells in the epidermis of the brown trout, Salmo trutta L. Cell Tissue Res 210:359–369
Elliott JM (1977) Some methods for the statistical analysis of samples of benthic invertebrates. Freshwater Biological Association. Scientific Publication No. 25
Harris JE, Hunt S (1975a) The fine structure of the epidermis of two species of salmonid fish, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and the brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) I. General organization and filament-containing cells. Cell Tissue Res 157:553–565
Harris JE, Hunt S (1975b) The fine structure of the epidermis of two species of salmonid fish, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and the brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) II. Mucous cells. Cell Tissue Res 163:535–543
Hawkes JW (1974) The structure of fish skin I. General organization. Cell Tissue Res 149:147–158
Mittal AK, Whitear M, Bullock AM (1981) Sacciform cells in the skin of teleost fish. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch, Leipzig 95:559–585
Nishioka RS, Lai KV, Bern HA (1985) Epidermal “white cells” in coho salmon. Aquaculture 45:393–394
Paling JE (1965) The population dynamics of the monogenean gill parasite Discocotyle sagittata Leuckart on Windermere trout, Salmo trutta L. Parasitology 55:667–694
Peleteiro MC, Richards RH (1985) Identification of lymphocytes in the epidermis of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. J Fish Dis 8:161–172
Pickering AD (1974) The distribution of mucous cells in the epidermis of the brown trout Salmo trutta (L.) and the char Salvelinus alpinus (L.). J Fish Biol 6:111–118
Pickering AD (1977) Seasonal changes in the epidermis of the brown trout Salmo trutta (L.). J Fish Biol 10:561–566
Pickering AD, Christie P (1980) Sexual differences in the incidence and severity of ectoparasitic infestation of the brown trout, Salmo trutta L. J Fish Biol 16:669–683
Pickering AD, Macey DJ (1977) Structure, histochemistry and the effect of handling on the mucous cells of the epidermis of the char Salvelinus alpinus (L.). J Fish Biol 10:505–512
Pickering AD, Pottinger TG (1986) Lymphocytopenia and interrenal activity during sexual maturation in the brown trout, Salmo trutta L. J Fish Biol (in press)
Pottinger TG, Pickering AD (1985) Changes in skin structure associated with elevated androgen levels in maturing male brown trout, Salmo trutta L. J Fish Biol 26:745–753
Roberts RJ, Shearer WM, Elson KGR, Munro ALS (1970) Studies on ulcerative dermal necrosis of salmonids I. The skin of the normal salmon head. J Fish Biol 2:223–229
Robertson D (1979) Host parasite interactions between Ichthyobodo necator (Henneguy 1883) and farmed salmonids. J Fish Dis 2:481–493
Stoklosowa S (1966) Sexual dimorphism in the skin of sea-trout, Salmo trutta. Copeia 3:613–614
Stoklosowa S (1970) Further observations on the sexual dimorphism in the skin of Salmo trutta trutta in relation to sexual maturity. Copeia 2:332–339
Whitear M (1986) The skin of fishes including cyclostomes. In: Bereiter-Hahn J, Matoltsy AG, Richards KS (eds) Biology of the Integument Vol 2, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 8–64
Wilkins NP, Jancsar S (1979) Temporal variations in the skin of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. J Fish Biol 15:299–307
Yokoya S, Ebina Y (1980) Fine structure of a unicellular gland with a single secretory granule in a rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. Zool Mag 89:58–60
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pickering, A.D., Fletcher, J.M. Sacciform cells in the epidermis of the brown trout, Salmo trutta, and the Arctic char, Salvetinus alpinus . Cell Tissue Res. 247, 259–265 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218307
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218307