Summary
Labelling experiments to test mucopolysaccharide synthesis in the saccus vasculosus of the rainbow trout gave negative results and provoked analysis of succinic dehydrogenase activity in the coronet cells. Such activity was almost absent in the fresh-water living rainbow trout but was intense in sea water adapted individuals as well as in a sea water teleost, the flounder. Conversely, in sea water adapted rainbow trout which had been transferred back to fresh-water, activity had again decreased. In the sea water adapted rainbow trout high succinic dehydrogenase activity was paralleled by strongly positive staining with alcian blue, indicating the presence of mucopolysaccharides. The latter fishes also showed incorporation of N-acetyl-3H-glucosamine. Our findings indicate a role for saccus vasculosus in adaptation for osmoregulation in sea water and favour the hypothesis of a secretory function for the coronet cells.
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This work has been supported by grants from the Royal Physiographical Society of Lund and the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Lund. We are greatly indebted to Mrs. Lena Eriksson, Mrs. Kristine Fogelström and Mrs. Lena Svenre for excellent technical assistance.
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Emanuelsson, H., von Mecklenburg, C. Metabolic activity in the saccus vasculosus of the rainbow trout, salmo gairdneri (richardson). Z.Zellforsch 130, 351–361 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306948
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306948