Summary
Light- and electron-microscopic autoradiography were used to obtain a coordinated metabolic-morphologic view of some of the events of cellular differentiation that occur across the epidermis of the Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) and which enable this animal to secrete copious amounts of mucus. As judged by epidermal incorporation of [3H]-thymidine in vivo, about 98 % of DNA replication is confined to the basal three layers of the total of 6–8 layers of cells. Small mucous cells (SMC), the most numerous of the three major cell types involved in mucigenesis, show in vitro and in vivo radioincorporation profiles of [3H]-L-lysine and [3H]-D-glucosamine which differ markedly from those of [3H]-L-fucose and [3H]-D-galactose. Time-course incorporation profiles (mean silver grains/cell and percentage of cells with at least one cluster of silver grains) of [3H]-L-lysine and [3H]-D-glucosamine not only reflected the metabolic activities of cell renewal and differentiation in basally-located cells but also the high mucigenic activity in cells near the epidermal surface. By contrast, [3H]-L-fucose and [3H]-D-galactose were mainly incorporated by the more mature SMC in juxtanuclear regions near Golgi complexes and newly formed secretory vesicles. The intensity of [3H]-fucose labeling appeared proportional to the intensity of histochemical staining of the apical cytoplasm. The prominent capsule, within SMC in basal and lateral regions, which arises from a tight intermingling of tonofilaments, appears to restrict secretory vesicles to apical regions while the cell progressively differentiates and migrates to the epidermal surface. The other mucigenic cell types, large mucous cells and thread cells, each show distinctive differentiation and radioincorporation patterns.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, D.R., Burton, M.P.M.: The pronephron as the site of presumptive interrenal cells in the hagfish Myxine glutinosa L. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 53, 73–77 (1976)
Anderson, W.C., Manion, P.J.: Morphological development of the integument of the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34, 159–163 (1977)
Avtalion, R.R., Weiss, E., Moalen, T.: Regulatory effects of temperature upon immunity in ectothermic vertebrates. In: Comparative immunology (J.J. Marchalonis, ed.), pp. 227–238. New York: John Wiley and Sons 1976
Bekesi, J.B., Winzler, R.J.: The metabolism of plasma glycoproteins. Studies on the incorporation of l-fucose-1-14C into tissue and serum in the normal rat. J. Biol. Chem. 242, 3873–3879 (1967)
Bennett, G.: Migration of glycoprotein from the Golgi apparatus to cell coat in the columnar cells of the duodenal epithelium. J. Cell Biol. 45, 668–673 (1970)
Bennett, G., Leblond, C.P.: Formation of cell coat material for the whole surface of columnar cells in the rat small intestine, as visualized by radioautography with l-fucose3H. J. Cell Biol. 46, 409–416 (1970)
Bennett, G., Leblond, C.P.: Passage of fucose-3H label from the Golgi apparatus into dense and multivesicular bodies in the duodenal columnar cells and hepatocytes of the rat. J. Cell Biol. 51, 875–881 (1971)
Bernstein, I.A.: Relation of the nucleic acids to protein synthesis in the mammalian epidermis. In: The epidermis (W. Montagna and W.C. Lobitz, eds.), pp. 471–483. New York: Academic Press 1964
Blackstad, T.: The skin and its derivatives. In: The biology of Myxine (A. Brodal and R. Fänge, eds.), pp. 195–230. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget 1963
Brody, I.: The ultrastructure of the tonofibrils in the keratinization process of normal human epidermis. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 4, 264–297 (1960)
Cairnie, A.B., Lala, P.K., Osmond, D.G. (eds.): Stem cells of renewing cell populations. pp. 1–382. New York: Academic Press 1976
Cameron, I.L., Greulich, R.C.: Evidence for an essentially constant duration of DNA synthesis in renewing epithelia of the adult mouse. J. Cell Biol. 18, 31–40 (1963)
Caro, L.G., Turbergen, R.P. van: High resolution autoradiography. I. Methods. J. Cell Biol. 15, 173–188 (1962)
Clamp, J.R.: Mucus in health and disease. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 89, 1–15 (1976)
Downing, S.W., Novales, R.R.: The fine structure of lamprey epidermis. I. Introduction and mucous cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 35, 282–294 (1971a)
Downing, S.W., Novales, R.R.: The fine structure of lamprey epidermis. II. Club cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 35, 295–303 (1971b)
Downing, S.W., Novales, R.R.: The fine structure of lamprey epidermis. III. Granular cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 35, 304–313 (1971c)
Falkmer, S., Emdin, S.O., Östberg, Y., Matlisson, A., Johansson Sjöbeck, M.-L., Fänge, R.: Tumor pathology of the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa, and the river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis. Prog. Exp. Tumor Res. 20, 217–250 (1976)
Falkmer, S., Thomas, N.W., Boquist, L.: Endocrinology of the cyclostomata. Chem. Zool. 8, 195–257 (1974)
Fletcher, T.C., Grant, P.T.: Immunoglobulins in the serum and mucus of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.). Biochem. J. 115, 65 (1969)
Greulich, R.C.: Aspects of cell individuality in the renewal of stratified squamous epithelia. In: The epidermis (W. Montagna and W.C. Lobitz, eds.), pp. 117–133. New York: Academic Press 1964
Haddad, A., Smith, M.D., Herscovics, A., Nadler, N.J., Leblond, C.P.: Radioautographic study of in vivo and in vitro incorporation of fucose-3H into thyroglobulin by rat thyroid follicular cells. J. Cell Biol. 49, 856–882 (1971)
Harris, J.E., Hunt, S.: 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 filamentcontaining cells. Cell Tissue Res. 157, 553–565 (1975a)
Harris, J.E., Hunt, S.: 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 (1975b)
Hawkes, J.W.: The structure of fish skin. I. General organization. Cell Tissue Res. 149, 147–158 (1974a)
Hawkes, J.W.: The structure of fish skin. II. The chromatophore unit. Cell Tissue Res. 149, 159–172 (1974b)
Henrikson, R.C.: Incorporation of tritiated thymidine by teleost epidermal cells. Experientia 23, 357–358 (1967)
Henrikson, R.C., Matoltsy, A.G.: The fine structure of teleost epidermis. I. Introduction and filamentcontaining cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 21, 194–212 (1968a)
Henrikson, R.C., Matoltsy, A.G.: The fine structure of teleost epidermis. II. Mucous cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 21, 213–221 (1968b)
Henrikson, R.C., Matoltsy, A.G.: The fine structure of teleost epidermis. III. Club cells and other cell types. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 21, 222–232 (1968c)
Herscovics, A.: Biosynthesis of thyroglobulin incorporation of [3H]-fucose into proteins by rat thyroids in vitro. Biochem. J. 117, 411–413 (1970)
Humphrey, C.D., Pittman, F.E.: A simple methylene blue-azure II-Basic fuchsin stain for epoxyembedded tissue sections. Stain Technol. 49, 9–14 (1974)
Jakowska, J.: Mucus secretion in a fish-a note. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 106, 458–462 (1963)
Jamieson, J.D., Palade, G.E.: Synthesis, intracellular transport and discharge of secretory proteins in stimulated pancreatic exocrine cells. J. Cell Biol. 50, 135–158 (1971)
Kaufman, R.L., Ginsburg, V.: The metabolism of L-fucose by HeLa cells. Exp. Cell Res. 50, 127–132 (1968)
Lanzing, W.J.R., Wright, R.G.: The ultrastructure of the skin of Tilapia mossambica (Peters). Cell Tissue Res. 154, 251–264 (1974)
Leblond, C.P., Meissier, B., Kopriwa, B.: Thymidine-H3 as a tool for the renewal of cell populations. Lab. Invest. 8, 306–308 (1959)
Leblond, C.P., Greulich, R.C., Pereira, J.P.M.: Relationship of cell formation and cell migration in the renewal of stratified squamous epithelia. In: Symposium on wound healing (W. Montagna, ed.). New York: Pergamon Press 1964
Lehtonen, A., Kärkkäinen, J., Haahti, E.: Carbohydrate components in the epithelial mucin of hagfish, Myxine glutinosa. Acta Chem. Scand. 20, 1456–1462 (1966)
Leppi, T.J.: Morphochemical analysis of mucous cells in the skin and slime glands of hagfishes. Histochemie 15, 68–78 (1968)
Linthicum, D.S., Hildemann, W.H.: Immunologic responses of Pacific hagfish. III. Serum antibodies to cellular antigens. J. Immunol. 105, 912–918 (1970)
Morris, R., Pickering, A.D.: Ultrastructure of the presumed ion-transporting cells in the gills of ammocoete lampreys, Lampetra fluviatilis (L.) and Lampetra planeri (Bloch). Cell Tissue Res. 163, 327–341 (1975)
Murray, C.K., Fletcher, T.C.: The immunohistochemical localization of lysozyme in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) tissues. J. Fish Biol. 9, 329–334 (1976)
Nelson, D.M., Enders, A.C., King, B.F.: Cytological events involved in protein synthesis in cellular and syncytial trophoblast of human placenta. An electron microscope autoradiographic study of [3H]-leucine incorporation. J. Cell Biol. 76, 400–417 (1978)
Neutra, M., Leblond, C.P.: Synthesis of the carbohydrate of mucus in the Golgi complex as shown by electron microscopic radioautography of goblet cells from rats injected with glucose-H3. J. Cell Biol. 30, 119–136 (1966a)
Neutra, M., Leblond, C.P.: Radioautographic comparison of the uptake of galactose-H3 and glucose-H3 in the Golgi region of various cells secreting glycoproteins or mucopolysaccharides. J. Cell Biol. 30, 137–150 (1966b)
Olson, K.R., Fromm, P.O.: A scanning electron microscopic study of secondary lamellae and chloride cells of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Z. Zellforsch. 143, 439–449 (1973)
Oosten, J. van: The skin and scales. In: The physiology of fishes, Vol. I (E.M. Brown, ed.), pp. 207–244. New York: Academic Press 1957
Parakkal, P.F., Matoltsy, A.G.: A study of the fine structure of the epidermis of Ranapipiens. J. Cell Biol. 20, 85–94 (1964)
Pelletier, G.: Autoradiographic studies of synthesis and intracellular migration of glycoproteins in the rat anterior pituitary gland. J. Cell Biol. 62, 185–197 (1974)
Reutter, K.: Cholinergic innervation of scattered sensory cells in fish epidermis. Cell Tissue Res. 149, 143–146 (1974)
Roberts, R.J., Shearer, W.M., Elson, K.G.R., Munro, A.L.S.: Studies on ulcerative dermal necrosis of salmonids. I. The skin of the normal salmon head. J. Fish Biol. 2, 223–229 (1970)
Roberts, R.J., Young, H., Milne, J.A.: Studies on the skin of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) I. The structure and ultrastructure of normal skin. J. Fish Biol. 3, 87–98 (1971)
Schliwa, M.: Cytoarchitecture of surface layer cells of the teleost epidermis. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 52, 377–386 (1975)
Schultze, B., Oehlert, W.: Autoradiographic investigation of incorporation of H3-thymidine into cells of rat and mouse. Science 131, 737–738 (1960)
Spitzer, R.H., Downing, S.W., Koch, E.A., Kaplan, M.A.: Hemagglutinins in the mucus of Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stoutii. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 54B, 409–411 (1976)
Stich, H.F., Acton, A.B.: The possible use of fish tumors in monitoring for carcinogens in the marine environment. Prog. Exp. Tumor Res. 20, 44–54 (1976)
Terakado, K., Ogawa, M., Hashimoto, Y., Matsuzaki, H.: Ultrastructure of the thread cells in the slime gland of Japanese hagfishes, Paramyxine atami and Eptatretus burgeri. Cell Tissue Res. 159, 311–323 (1975)
Thoenes, G.H., Hildemann, W.H.: Immunological responses of Pacific hagfish. II. Serum antibody production to soluble antigen. In: Developmental aspects of antibody formation and structure (J. Sterzl and I. Riha, eds.), 2nd edn., Vol. II, pp. 711–726. New York: Academic Press 1971
Thompson, D.A.: Toxic stress secretions of the boxfish Ostracion meleagris Shaw. Copeia 2, 335–351 (1969)
Todd, J.M., Samli, M.H.: The incorporation of [3H]-glucosamine, [3H]-fucose and [3H]-mannose into protein in the rat anterior pituitary incubated in vitro. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 297, 11–21 (1973)
Völkyl, A., Bieger, W., Kern, H.F.: Studies on secretory glycoproteins in the rat exocrine pancreas. I. Fine structure of the Golgi complex and release of fucose-labeled proteins after in vivo stimulation with caerulein. Cell Tissue Res. 175, 227–243 (1976)
Waechter, C.J., Lennarz, W.J.: The role of polyprenol-linked sugars in glycoprotein synthesis. Ann. Rev. Biochem. (E.E. Snell, ed.), pp. 95–112. Palo Alto, CA, Annual Reviews, Inc. 1976
Wellings, S.R., McCain, B.B., Miller, B.S.: Epidermal papillomas in Pleuronectidae of Puget Sound, Washington. Review of the current status of the problem. Prog. Exp. Tumor Res. 20, 55–74 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported in part by General Research Support Grant, FR5366 of the NIH, Minnesota Medical Foundation Grants, and the Asthmatic Children's Aid of Chicago, Illinois. The authors wish to thank Karen Brintzenhofe and Doreen Fleetwood for their assistance
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spitzer, R.H., Downing, S.W. & Koch, E.A. Metabolic-morphologic events in the integument of the Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii). Cell Tissue Res. 197, 235–255 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233917
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233917