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Ultrastructure of scales in a teleost (Carassius auratus L.) after use of rapid freeze-fixation and freeze-substitution

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Summary

New data on the ultrastructural features of the elasmoid scales ofCarassius auratus have been obtained by use of rapid freezing with subsequent freeze-substitution in anhydrous solvents. These are compared with the results obtained using conventional aqueous fixatives.

The external layer of the scales is composed of randomly oriented collagen fibres. In the first stages of mineralization, mineral deposits are located in the interfibrillary substance where dense granules appear to be active sites of mineralization. Spheritic mineralization occurs in this layer.

The fibrillary plate is composed of two kinds of collagen fibres. Most of them are organized in lamellae forming the “plywood-like structure”. They are thicker than the so-called “TC fibres”, which are oriented from the basal part towards the superficial layer. These TC fibres are involved in the first stages of mineral deposition in the fibrillary plate where inotropic mineralization occurs.

The mineral phase is almost always located in the interfibrillary matrix in both layers of the elasmoid scale. In this respect, teleost scales differ from those described so far in other lower vertebrates.

Resumé

Des précisions concernant les aspects ultrastructuraux des dépôts minéraux dans les écailles deCarassius auratus ont été obtenues grâce à l'utilisation de la congélation ultra-rapide suivie d'une cryosubstitution en milieu anhydre. Ces données sont comparées à celles fournies par les méthodes usuelles utilisant des fixateurs aqueux.

La couche externe des écailles comprend des fibres collagènes disposées sans ordre apparent. Les dépôts minéraux se produisent surtout dans la substance interfibrillaire où des granules denses semblent représenter des sites actifs au cours de la minéralisation apparentée au type sphéritique.

La plaque basale comporte deux catégories de fibres collagènes. Les unes, les plus nombreuses, de plus fort diamètre, sont organisées en lamelles formant une structure en contre-plaqué; les autres appelées “fibres TC”, orientées de la base de l'écaille vers la zone superficielle, jouent un rôle important dans les premières phases de la minéralisation de type inotropique dans cette partie de l'écaille.

Dans les deux couches de l'écaille, la phase minérale est surtout trouvée dans la substance interfibrillaire. De ce fait, les écailles élasmoides des Téleostéens peuvent être distinguées des autres écailles dermiques connues de Vertébrés inférieurs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipe de recherche “Formations squelettiques”, Laboratoire d'Anatomie Comparée, Université Paris VII, France

    Louise Zylberberg & G. Nicolas

  2. Laboratoire de Technologie appliquée à la Biologie C.N.R.S., Laboratoire de Cytologie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

    Louise Zylberberg & G. Nicolas

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  1. Louise Zylberberg
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  2. G. Nicolas
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Zylberberg, L., Nicolas, G. Ultrastructure of scales in a teleost (Carassius auratus L.) after use of rapid freeze-fixation and freeze-substitution. Cell Tissue Res. 223, 349–367 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01258495

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