Summary
The neuromuscular system in the trunk of larval and adult zebrafishes was studied by means of light and electronmicroscopical methods. Spinal motoneurons were identified with the horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport method. We correlated the differentiation and growth of the myotomal muscle with the number of motoneurons per spinal cord segment and the size of the motoneuron somata.
The adult number of motoneurons is reached in an early larval stage, before the muscle fiber type differentiation in the myotomes is completed. The mean motoneuron size does not bear a clear correlation with the size of the myotomal muscle.
In adult zebrafishes we could distinguish the motoneurons which innervate the superficial slow red and the deep fast white muscle fibers on the basis of soma size and position in the motor column. The motoneurons of the red muscle part are small; they are located in the ventrolateral part of the motor column. The motoneurons of the deep fast white fibers are large; they lie near the central canal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernstein JJ (1970) Anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system. In: Hoar WS, Randall DJ (eds) Fish physiology vol IV Academic Press New York, San Francisco pp 2–90
Bone Q, Kiceniuk J, Jones DR (1979) On the role of the different fibre types in fish myotomes at intermediate swimming speeds. Fish Bull 76:691–699
Burke RE, Strick PL, Kanda K, Kim CC, Walmsley B (1977) Anatomy of medial gastrocnemius and soleus motor nuclei in cat spinal cord. J Neurophysiol 40:667–680
Dum RP, Burke RE, O'Donovan MJ, Toop J, Hodgson JA (1982) Motorunit organization in flexor digitorum longus muscle of the cat. J Neurophysiol 47:1108–1125
Easter SS (1979) The growth and development of the superior oblique muscle and trochlear nerve in juvenile and adult goldfish. Anat Rec 195:683–698
Edds MV (1950) Hypertrophy of nerve fibers to functionally overloaded muscles. J Comp Neurol 93:258–276
Gideiri YBA (1966) The behaviour and neuroanatomy of some developing teleost fishes. J Zool (Lond) 149:215–241
Granit R (1972) Mechanisms regulating the discharge of motoneurons. Liverpool Un Press, Liverpool
Hisaoka KK, Battle HI (1958) The normal developmental stages of the zebrafish Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton Buchanan). J Morphol 102:311–327
Hughes AF (1961) Cell degeneration in the ventral horn of Xenopus laevis (Daudin). J Embryol Exp Morphol 9:269–284
Jacobson M (1978) Developmental neurobiology. Plenum Press, New York, London
Johnston IA, Davison W, Goldspink G (1977) Energy metabolism of carp swimming muscle. J Comp Physiol 114:203–216
Jolesz F, Srèter FA (1981) Development innervation and activity pattern induced changes in skeletal muscle. Ann Rev Physiol 43:531–552
Karnovsky MJ (1965) A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 27:137A-138A
Khaskiye A, Toutant JP, Toutant M, Renaud D, LeDouarin GH (1980) Effect of hetero topic transplantation on the development of synaptic pattern in chick embryo muscles. Arch Anat Microsc Morphol Exp 69:135–146
Laing NG, Lamb AH (1982) Normal distributions of muscle fiber types in chick embryos with heterotopically innervated wings. 3rd ISDN meeting Patras: 134 (abstract), Univ Patras Greece
Leonard RB, Coggeshall RE, Willis WD (1978) A documentation of an age related increase in neuronal and axonal numbers in the stingray, Dasyatis sabina, Leseuer. J Comp Neurol 179:13–22
Nakane PK and Pierce GB (1966) Enzyme labeled antibodies: preparation and application for the localization of antigens. J Histochem Cytochem 14:929–935
Nieuwenhuys R (1964) Comparative anatomy of the spinal cord. In: Eccles JC, Schade JP (eds), Organization of the spinal cord. Progr Brain Res 11:1–55
Prestige MC (1967) The control of cell number in the lumbar ventral horns during the development of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. J Embryol Exp Morphol 18:359–387
Prestige MC, Wilson MA (1972) Loss of axons from ventral roots during development. Brain Res 41:467–470
Proctor C, Mosse PRL, Hudson RCL (1980) A histochemical and ultrastructural study of the development of the propulsive musculature of the brown trout, Salmo trutta L, in relation to its swimming behaviour. J Fish Biol 16:309–329
Raamsdonk W van, Stelt A van der, Diegenbach PC, Berg W van de, Bruyn H de, Dijk J van, Mijzen P (1974) Differentiation of the musculature of the teleost Brachydanio rerio. I Myotome shape and movements in the embryo. Z Anat Entwickl Gesch 145:321–342
Raamsdonk W van, Pool CW, Kronnie G te (1978) Differentiation of the muscle fiber types in the teleost Brachydanio rerio. Anat Embryol 153:137–155
Raamsdonk W van, Kronnie G te, Pool CW, Laarse W van der (1980) An immune histochemical and enzymic characterization of the muscle fibers in myotomal muscle of the teleost Brachydanio rerio, Hamilton Buchanan. Acta Histochem 67:200–216
Raamsdonk W van, Veer L van't, Veeken K, Heyting C, Pool CW (1982a) Differentiation of muscle fiber types in the teleost Brachydanio rerio, the zebrafish. Post hatching development. Anat Embryol 164:51–62
Raamsdonk W van, Pool CW, Heyting C, Kronnie G te, Veeken K (1982b) Effects of immobilization and partial denervation on the differentiation of muscle fiber types in the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio. Anat Embryol 164:63–74
Raamsdonk W van, Veer L van't, Veeken K, Kronnie G te, Jager S de (1982c) Fiber type differentiation in fish. Mol Physiol 2:31–47
Romanes GJ (1946) Motor localization and the effects of nerve injury on the ventral horn cells of the spinal cord. J Anat 80:117–131
Rubinstein NA, Kelly AM (1981) Development of muscle fiber specialization in the rat hindlimb. J Cell Biol 90:128–144
Salmons S, Henriksson J (1981) The adaptive response of skeletal muscle to increased use. Muscle and Nerve 4:94–105
Stelt A van der (1968) Spiermechanica en myotoombouw bij vissen. Thesis Univ Amsterdam
Sternberger LA (1979) Immunocytochemistry. John Wiley and Sons, New York
Strick PL, Burke RE, Kanda K, Kim CC, Walmsley B (1976) Differences between alpha and gamma motoneurones labeled with horse radish peroxidase by the retrograde transport method. Brain Res 113:582–588
Tada K, Ohshita S, Yonenobu K, Ono K, Satoh K, Shimizu N (1979) Development of spinal motor innervation of the upper limb muscle in the cat. Exp Brain Res 35:287–293
Waterman RE (1969) Development of the lateral musculature in the teleost Brachydanio rerio: a fine structural study. Am J Anat 125:457–494
Weatherley AH, Gill HS, Rogers SC (1980) The relationship between mosaic muscle fibers and size in rainbow trout (Salmo gardneri). J Fish Biol 17:603–611
Willemse JJ, Berg PG van de (1978) Growth of striated muscle fibre in the m-lateralis of the european eel, Anguilla anguilla (L) (Pisces, Teleostei). J Anat 125:447–460
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Raamsdonk, W., Mos, W., Smit-Onel, M.J. et al. The development of the spinal motor column in relation to the myotomal muscle fibers in the zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). Anat Embryol 167, 125–139 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00304606
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00304606