Summary
An electron microscopic study has been made on the development of the heart of the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) by the examination of tissue taken from fish at the stage when the heart-tube has formed right through the larval life and up two months postmetamorphosis. The process of developments of the heart is essentially the same as that in higher vertebrates but there are certain minor sequential differences with comparable chick tissue. By day 24 (ten days after hatching) the “early larval” heart has formed which is a trilaminar structure — a layer of myocardium bounded internally by endocardium and externally by epicardium. This condition lasts until the 4a (Ryland) stage with the onset of endocardial invagination into the myocardium which is the criterion distinguishing the “late larval” heart. The “late larval” heart lasts throughout metamorphosis of the larva and until two months post-metamorphosis when the total adult heart is assumed. Thus the process of cardiogenesis continues irrespective of hatching and of metamorphosis. This study supports the concept that the epicardium is derived from an extramyocardial source. No results are presented concerning the theory that, in its earliest stages, the myocardium has a secretory function in the production of cardiac jelly, or of myofibrillogenesis in the Teleost myoblast. Stellar configurations of short lengths of newly formed sarcomeres commonly radiate out from Z centres in early myocytes and it is suggested that this is a primitive feature of Teleost myogenesis. There is also a proliferation of mitochondria within the myocardial cells at metamorphosis which may be connected to the subsequent fast growth of the heart in the succeeding two months.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armstrong, P. B., Child, J. S.: Stages in the normal development of Fundulus heteroclitus. Biol. Bull. 128, 143–168 (1965).
Davis, C. L.: The cardiac jelly of the chick embryo. Anat. Rec. 27, 201–202 (1924).
Edwards, G. A., Challice, C. E.: The fine structure of cardiac muscle cells of newborn and suckling mice. Exp. Cell Res. 15, 247–250 (1958).
Gros, D., Schrével, J.: Ultrastructure comparée du muscle cardiaque ventriculaire de l'Ambystome et de sa larve l'Axolotl. J. Microscopie 9, 765–784 (1970).
Hagopian, M., Tennyson, V. M.: Cytochemical localization of cholinesterase activity in adult rabbit heart. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 19, 376–382 (1971).
Huang, C. Y.: An electron microscopic study of the development of heart muscle of the frog Rana pipiens. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 20, 211–226 (1967).
Jamieson, J. D., Palade, G. E.: Specific granules in atrial cells. J. Cell Biol. 23, 151–172 (1964).
Manasek, F. J.: Embryonic development of the heart. I. A light and electron microscopic study of myocardial development in the early chick embryo. J. Morph. 125, 329–366 (1968a).
Manasek, F. J.: Mitosis in developing cardiac muscle. J. Cell Biol. 37, 191–196 (1968b).
Manasek, F. J.: Embryonic development of the heart. II. Formation of the epicardium. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 22, 333–348 (1969a).
Manasek, F. J.: Myocardial cell death in the embryonic chick ventricle. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 21, 271–284 (1969b).
Manasek, F. J.: The appearance of granules in the Golgi complex of embryonic cardiac myocytes. J. Cell Biol. 43, 605–610 (1969c).
Manasek, F. J.: Histogenesis of the embryonic myocardium. Amer. J. Cardiol. 25, 149–168 (1970a).
Manasek, F. J.: Sulfated extracellular matrix production in the embryonic heart and adjacent tissues. J. exp. Zool. 174, 415–440 (1970b).
Muir, A. R.: An electron microscope study of the embryology of the intercalated disc in the heart of the rabbit. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 193–202 (1957).
Olivo, O. M., Laschi, R., Lucchi, M. L.: Genese di miofibrille del cuore embryonale do pollo osservante al microscoppio eletronic e inizio dell ativitta contraltile. Sperimentale 114, 69–78 (1964)
Pager, J.: Evolution structurale et ultrastructurale du tissu cardiaque en développement chez le foetus de rat. Thése 3e cycle. University of Lyon, 126 pp. (1968).
Przybylski, R. J.: Occurrence of centrioles during skeletal and cardiac myogenesis. J. Cell Biol. 48, 214–221 (1971).
Rash, J. E., Biesele, J. J., Gey, G. O.: Three classes of filaments in cardiac differentiation. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 33, 408–435 (1970).
Romanoff, A.: The avian embryo. New York: Macmillan 1960.
Ryland, J. S.: Observations on the development of larvae of the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., in aquaria. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 30, 177–195 (1966).
Santer, R. M., Cobb, J. L. S.: The fine structure of the heart of the teleost Pleuronectes platessa L. Z. Zellforsch. 131, 1–14 (1972).
Senior, H. D.: The development of the heart in shad. Whit a note on the Classification of Teleostean embryos from a morphological standpoint. Amer. J. Anat. 9, 211 (1909).
Shirahama, T., Cohen, A. S.: The role of mucopolysaccharides in vesicle architecture and endothelial transport. An electron microscope study of myocardial blood vessels. J. Cell Biol. 52, 198–206 (1972).
Wainrack, S., Sotello, J. R.: Electron microscope study of the developing chick embryo heart. Z. Zellforsch. 55, 622–634 (1961).
Yamauchi, A., Burnstock, G.: Post-natal development of smooth muscle cells in the mouse vas deferens. A fine structureal study. J. Anat. (Lond.) 104, 1–15 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Santer, R.M. An electron microscopical study of the development of the teleost heart. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 139, 93–105 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00520947
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00520947