Skip to main content

Sacciform cells in the epidermis of the brown trout, Salmo trutta, and the Arctic char, Salvetinus alpinus

Cell and Tissue Research volume 247, pages 259–265 (1987)Cite this article

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes JW (1974) The structure of fish skin I. General organization. Cell Tissue Res 149:147–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Mittal AK, Whitear M, Bullock AM (1981) Sacciform cells in the skin of teleost fish. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch, Leipzig 95:559–585

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishioka RS, Lai KV, Bern HA (1985) Epidermal “white cells” in coho salmon. Aquaculture 45:393–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Paling JE (1965) The population dynamics of the monogenean gill parasite Discocotyle sagittata Leuckart on Windermere trout, Salmo trutta L. Parasitology 55:667–694

    Google Scholar 

  • Peleteiro MC, Richards RH (1985) Identification of lymphocytes in the epidermis of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. J Fish Dis 8:161–172

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickering AD (1977) Seasonal changes in the epidermis of the brown trout Salmo trutta (L.). J Fish Biol 10:561–566

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson D (1979) Host parasite interactions between Ichthyobodo necator (Henneguy 1883) and farmed salmonids. J Fish Dis 2:481–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoklosowa S (1966) Sexual dimorphism in the skin of sea-trout, Salmo trutta. Copeia 3:613–614

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins NP, Jancsar S (1979) Temporal variations in the skin of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. J Fish Biol 15:299–307

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Windermere Laboratory, Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, UK

    A. D. Pickering & J. M. Fletcher

Authors
  1. A. D. Pickering
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. M. Fletcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218307

Key words

  • Epidermis
  • Acidophilic cell
  • Histochemistry
  • Ultrastructure
  • Salmo trutta
  • Salvelinus alpinus