Summary
The urophysis or neurohemal contact site of the caudal neurosecretory system of Mollienesia sphenops, the black molly, was studied in animals adapted to an artificial seawater environment. This species of fish was chosen for these studies because of its known ability to osmoregulate and its adaptability to the laboratory aquarium. The urophysis of freshwater acclimated mollys contained an abundance of neurosecretory granules. However, in fish subjected to a seawater environment for one week the number of neurosecretory granules was significantly decreased. In addition, there was an increase in blood cell infiltration of the urophysis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atz JW (1973) Comments on reproductive endocrinology of fishes by Edward M. Donaldson. Am Zool 13:929–931
Ball JN, Ingleton PM (1973) Adaptive variations in prolactin secretion in relation to external salinity in the teleost Poecilia latipinna (Teleostei). Gen Comp Endocrinol 20:312–325
Bern HA (1972a) Comparative endocrinology: The state of the field and the art. Gen Comp Endocrinol 3:751–761
Bern HA (1972b) Some questions on the nature and function of cranial and caudal neurosecretory systems. Progr Brain Res 38:85–96
Bern HA, Lederis K (1969) A reference prepatation for the study of active substances in the caudal neurosecretory system of teleosts. J Endocrinol 45:xi-xii
Chan DK (1975) Cardiovascular and renal effects of urotensins I and II in the eel, Anguilla rostrata. Gen Comp Endocrinol 27:52–61
Chan DK, Bern HA (1976) The caudal neurosecretory system: A critical evaluation of the two-hormone hypothesis. Cell Tissue Res 174:339–354
Chevalier G (1976) Ultrastructural changes in the caudal neurosecretory cells of the trout Salvelinus fontinalis in relation to external salinity. Gen Comp Endocrinol 29:441–454
Chevalier G (1978) Osmotic manipulations of the caudal neurosecretory system of the trout Salvelinus fontinalis. In: Gaillard PJ, Boaer HH (eds) Comparative Endocrinology. Elsevier/North Holland, Amsterdam, 246–247
Ethridge L, Benjamin M (1977) The time-sequence of response of the prolactin cells of the freshwater teleost, Poecilia reticulata, to an altered environmental salinity. Cell Tissue Res 182:371–383
Fridberg G, Bern HA, Nishioka R (1966) The caudal neurosecretory system of the isospondylous teleost, Albula vulpes, from different habitats. Gen Comp Endocrinol 6:195–212
Kriebel RM (1976) Anatomical features of the caudal neurosecretory system of the black molly (Mollienesia) Anat Rec 184:452–453
Kriebel RM, Burke JD, Meetz GD (1979) Morphological features of the caudal neurosecretory system in the blueback herring, Pomolobus aestivals. Anat Rec 195:553–572
Lacanilao F, Bern HA (1972) The urophyseal hydrosmotic factor of fishes: III. Survey of fish spinal cord regions for hydrosmotic activity. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 140:1252–1253
Lederis K (1964) Fine structure and hormone content of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system of the rainbow trout, Salmo irideus, exposed to seawater. Gen Comp Endocrinol 4:638–661
Lederis K, Bern HA, Nishioka RS, Geschwind II (1971) Some observations on biological and chemical properties and subcellular localization of urophyseal active principles. Mem Soc Endocrinol 19:413–433
Livingstone A (1975) Morphology of the perivascular regions of the rat neural lobe in relation to hormone release. Cell Tissue Res 159:551–561
Maetz J, Lahlou B (1974) Actions of neurohypophyseal hormones in fishes. In: Handbook of Physiology:4, Part 1, Physiol Soc Washington, DC
Maetz J, Boruguet M, Lahlou B (1964) Urophyse et osmorégulation chez Carassius auratus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 4:401–414
Marshall WS, Bern HA (1979) Teleostean urophysis: urotensin II and ion transport across the isolated skin of a marine teleost. Science 204:519–521
Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212
Richardson KC, Jarett L, Finke EH (1960) Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol 35:313–323
Scharrer B (1976) Neurosecretion-comparative and evolutionary aspects. Prog Brain Res 45:125–137
Scharrer E, Scharrer B (1945) Neurosecretion. Physiol Rev 25:171–181
Sooriyamoorthy T, Livingstone A (1972) Variations in the blood volume of the neural and anterior lobes of the pituitary of the rat associated with neurohypophyseal hormone-releasing stimuli. J Endocrinol 54:407–415
Sooriyamoorthy T, Livingstone A (1973) Blood flow changes in the pituitary neural lobe of the rabbit associated with neurohypophyseal hormone-releasing stimuli. J Endocrinol 57:75–85
Yagi K, Bern HA (1965) Electrophysiological analysis of the response of the caudal neurosecretory system of Tilapia mossambica to osmotic manipulations. Gen Comp Endocrinol 5:509–526
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by PHS 5429-16-19 (5-23311)
The Author wishes to thank Drs. W. Young and J. Wells for their careful reading of this report and W. Boldosser for technical assistance
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kriebel, R.M. Ultrastructural changes in the urophysis of Mollienesia sphenops following adaptation to seawater. Cell Tissue Res. 207, 135–142 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239335
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239335