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Comparative ultrastructural investigations of the pineal organ of the blind cave fish, Anoptichthys jordani, and its ancestor, the eyed river fish, Astyanax mexicanus

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Summary

A comparative ultrastructural study has been made of the pineal organ in specimens of two closely related populations of the characid fish, Astyanax mexicanus. The specimens of one population are living in the river, under natural light conditions. The specimens of the other population, originally described as Anoptichthys jordani, are living in a completely dark cave.

In specimens of both populations the pineal organ consists of a spindle shaped end-vesicle, connected to the diencephalic roof by a slender stalk. The pineal tissue is compact and consists predominantly of glia-like supporting cells and sensory cells resembling the photoreceptor cells of the lateral vertebrate eye. Phagocytotic microglia-like cells can be found in close contact with the outer segments of the sensory cells. Nerve cells are located in the neighbourhood of neuropil formations, in which synaptic contacts are established between sensory cells and nerve cells. From these nerve cells fibers are emerging, forming the pineal tract that runs down the pineal stalk towards the diencephalon. On the basis of the ultrastructure described by other authors it is concluded that the pineal organ in specimens of the river population of Astyanax mexicanus resembles the pineal organ of other fish species.

In specimens of the river population, reared under normal light-dark conditions for 3, 9 or 18 months, conspicuous morphological changes have not been detected in the presumably light-sensitive outer segments of the sensory cells or in other parts of the pineal tissue.

In specimens of the cave populations, reared under identical conditions, an age-dependent, gradual regression of the regular outer segment organization of the pineal sensory cells takes place. In other parts of the pineal tissue, only small morphological changes can be observed.

In specimens of the cave population, reared in constant darkness, the regression of the pineal outer segment organization begins earlier and is obvious.

It is postulated that the gradual age-dependent regression of the regular organization of the outer segments in the pineal organ of cave specimens of Astyanax mexicanus is genetically determined and indicates a regressive evolution of the pineal light sensitivity. The expression of the regressive traits is dependent on the environmental light conditions.

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  1. Zoological Laboratory, Section Histology and Cell Biology, State University of Utrecht, Transitorium III, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    H. J. Herwig

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Bargmann, Kiel, pioneer investigator of the pineal organ, on the occasion of his seventieth birthday

The author is obliged to Prof. Dr. J.C. van de Kamer, Dr. W.F.G. Flight and Dr. F.C.G. van de Veerdonk for critically reading the manuscript, and to Prof. Dr. H. Wilkens for his valuable advice on the evolutionary aspects of this study. Thanks are also due to Mr. L.W. van Veenendaal and the members of the photographic department for preparing the illustrations, to Dr. L. Boomgaart for checking and amending the English writing and to Miss H.M. van der Mark for typing the manuscript

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Herwig, H.J. Comparative ultrastructural investigations of the pineal organ of the blind cave fish, Anoptichthys jordani, and its ancestor, the eyed river fish, Astyanax mexicanus . Cell Tissue Res. 167, 297–324 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219144

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