Fine structure of regenerating scales and their associated cells in the cichlid Hemichromis bimaculatus (Gill)

Summary

Scale regeneration has been studied in Hemichromis bimaculatus. The removed scale, which serves as a control, is covered by its surrounding scleroblasts as can be seen with scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, during regeneration, a population of scleroblasts arises in the empty dermal pocket as shown with transmission electron microscopy. At first, an elongated papilla of regeneration forms, probably from the differentiation of dermal fibroblasts. A scale anlage composed of the osseous layer appears in the middle of the papilla, which becomes a regenerating bag. All the surrounding large scleroblasts are involved in scale formation, although later three populations of scleroblasts specialize according to their location around the scale. Superficial scleroblasts flatten when the final thickness of the osseous layer of the scale is attained; the deep scleroblasts are responsible for the formation of the basal plate whereas marginal scleroblasts increase the diameter of the osseous layer of the scale.

During scale regeneration, scleroblasts are more numerous and larger than during scale ontogenesis. In particular, deep scleroblasts form a columnar epithelium when the basal plate is laid down, a feature which is not found during scale ontogenesis. Moreover, the regenerated basal plate exhibits an orthogonal “plywood” arrangement that is never seen in the embryonic scale where the “plywood” is of the intermediate type.