A morphometric analysis of chloride cells in the gills of the teleost Oreochromis alcalicus and Oreochromis niloticus and a description of presumptive urea-excreting cells in O. alcalicus

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Abstract

The gills of Oreochromis alcalicus, a hyperosmotic and low pH adapted teleost, and Oreochromis niloticus, a freshwater closely related fish have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy and a morphometric analysis of, particularly, the chloride cells and their primary organelles, the mitochondria and the tubulo-vesicular system carried out. Oreochromis alcalicus had a fourfold greater number of chloride cells than O. niloticus and the chloride cells had more mitochondria and a more profuse tubulo-vesicular matrix. The ultrastructural features of the chloride cells of Oreochromis alcalicus were interpreted as adaptations for the severe ecosystem that the species inhabits. Putative urea excreting cells unique to the gills of Oreochromis alcalicus are described.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)131-145
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Anatomy
Volume175
Publication statusPublished - 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Histology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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