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The caudal spinal cord of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Immunocytochemical evidence of a “caudal serotoninergic system”

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Summary

The caudal spinal cord of the coho salmon was investigated by means of immunocytochemistry using antisera against serotonin, urotensin I, urotensin II, somatostatin and a urea-extract of bovine Reissner's fiber (AFRU). Populations of serotonin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were found rostral and dorsal to the urophysis in close spatial association with caudal secretory neurons. Thick, smooth serotonin-IR processes extended toward the external surface of the spinal cord where they displayed conspicuous terminal dilatations. Thin, beaded serotonin-IR fibers appeared to innervate populations of caudal secretory and somatostatin-IR cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons. Most caudal neurosecretory cells displayed both urotensin I and urotensin II immunoreactivities; only a minority reacted exclusively with either urotensin I or urotensin II antisera. Urotensin II-IR and somatostatin-IR cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting neurons were found as an integral component of the central canal wall in the caudal spinal cord and filum terminale; their dendritic processes appeared to contact Reissner's fiber, which displayed a weak AFRU-immunoreactivity while inside the central canal, but became strongly reactive in the interior of the terminal ventricle as it formed the massa caudalis. The distribution of serotoninergic processes points to a regulatory role in the function of caudal secretory and CSF-contacting neurons and to a putative serotonin release into the subarachnoid space and/or meningeal vasculature. It is also suggested that the CSF-contacting neurons of the central canal may participate in a feedback mechanism controlling the secretory activity of the subcommissural organ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Histología y Patología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile

    Carlos R. Yulis, Maria E. Garcia & Esteban M. Rodríguez

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  1. Carlos R. Yulis
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  2. Maria E. Garcia
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  3. Esteban M. Rodríguez
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Additional information

Supported by Grant A/1095-1 from the International Foundation for Science, Sweden, to C.Y.; Grant I/63-476 from Volkswagen-Stiftung to E.R.; and Grant S-85-39 from the Dirección de Investigaciones, Universidad Austral de Chile

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Yulis, C.R., Garcia, M.E. & Rodríguez, E.M. The caudal spinal cord of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch): Immunocytochemical evidence of a “caudal serotoninergic system”. Cell Tissue Res. 259, 543–550 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01740782

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01740782

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