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Immunohistochemical localization of bioactive peptides and amines associated with the chromaffin tissue of five species of fish

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Abstract

Biogenic peptides and amines associated with the chromaffin tissue in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European eel (Anguilla anguilla), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa) were identified utilizing immunohistochemical techniques. Within the posterior cardinal vein (PCV) in cod, trout and eel, a subpopulation of chromaffin cells displayed immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH) but not to phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT). TH-like immunorectivity was observed within cells in hagfish hearts. Nerve fibres displaying vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactivity and pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) immunoreactivity innervated cod, trout and ell chromaffin cells. In eel, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like and peptide YY (PYY)-like immunoreactivity was located within cells in the PCV, including chromaffin cells. Serotonin-like immunoreactivity was observed within eel and cod chromaffin cells and in hagfish hearts. In the dogfish axillary bodies, nerves displaying TH-like, VIP-like, PACAP-like, substance P-like and galanin-like immunoreactivity were observed. These results are compared with those of other vertebrates, and potential roles for these substances in the control of catecholamine release are suggested.

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Author notes

  1. Steve G. Reid

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, K1N 6N5, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoophysiology, Zoological Institute, University of Göteborg, Medicinaregatan 18 A, S-41390, Göteborg, Sweden

    Steve G. Reid, Regina Fritsche & Ann-Cathrine Jönsson

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  1. Steve G. Reid
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  2. Regina Fritsche
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  3. Ann-Cathrine Jönsson
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Reid, S.G., Fritsche, R. & Jönsson, AC. Immunohistochemical localization of bioactive peptides and amines associated with the chromaffin tissue of five species of fish. Cell Tissue Res 280, 499–512 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318354

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318354

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