Short communicationSerous goblet cells: The protein secreting cells in the oral cavity of a catfish, Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822) (Bagridae, Siluriformes)
Introduction
Unquestionably, mucus, in the oral cavity of fish, is predominantly secreted by the mucous goblet cells (Sibbing et al., 1986, Sibbing, 1988, Sanderson et al., 1991, Sanderson et al., 1998, Yashpal et al., 2007) and is involved in diverse roles such as trapping of food particles, formation of food bolus, solubilization of food materials, facilitation of mastication, initial digestion of starches and lipids, lubrication and protection of epithelial surfaces, cleansing the oral cavity and antimicrobial activity as well (Domeneghini et al., 2005, Yashpal et al., 2007, Yashpal et al., 2009).
In teleost, the secretions elaborated by the cells, which are mainly characterized by the presence of distinct eosinophilic granules occupying large parts of the cytoplasm also contribute to the surface mucus. These ‘granular’ cells, involved in proteinaceous rather than mucoid secretions, were first described and designated as “serous goblet cells” by Whitear (1986).
Apart from the reports of serous goblet cells (SGCs) present in the skin epidermis (Whitear, 1986) and gill epithelium (Kumari et al., 2009) of several fish species, we are aware of only one published study reporting the presence of these cells in the oral cavity of Rita rita, namely that of Yashpal et al. (2007). While describing the histochemical characterization of glycoproteins, Yashpal et al. (2007) briefly mentioned SGCs and considered them as one of the important constituents of the secretory elements in the epithelium at different regions of the oral cavity of R. rita. Therefore, in order to elucidate the functional role of this cell type, the present communication describes the histology and histochemistry of SGCs in the oral cavity of the catfish, R. rita in relation to its habit and habitat.
R. rita Hamilton, 1822 (Bagridae, Siluriformes) is a sluggish, bottom dwelling carnivorous catfish and inhabits the rivers, canals, ponds, streams, backwater of quiet eddies and estuaries preferably muddy to clear water (Shrestha, 1990, Rahman, 2005, Yashpal et al., 2006, Yashpal et al., 2007, Mushahida-Al-Noor et al., 2013). In spite of its high commercial value and the potential to satisfy various tastes of consumers, the availability of R. rita is decreasing day by day due to environmental changes of the breeding ground and currently it is enlisted as a critically endangered fish species (Mollah et al., 2011).
Section snippets
Fish samples
Live specimens of R. rita (mean ± S.D., standard length, Ls, 105 ± 6 mm; n = 10), irrespective of their sex were collected from river Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India and maintained in a laboratory aquarium with a layer of sand at the bottom for 24–48 h at 25 ± 2 °C. The fish were regularly fed with minced goat liver and sacrificed by exposure to ice cold water for an extended period of time (∼5 min) following Mittal and Whitear (1978). Immediately after the sacrifice, pieces of the roof and floor of
Results
The oral cavity, in R. rita, is distinguished into the dorsal roof and the ventral floor. The roof consists of the upper jaw, the velum, the palatine regions and the palate; and the floor consists of the lower jaw, the velum and the tongue (Yashpal et al., 2006). The velum, the palate and the tongue are edentulous. In contrast, the upper jaw, the palatine regions and the lower jaw are characteristically equipped with teeth (Yashpal et al., 2006). The stratified epithelium lining different
Discussion
The SGCs, with strong eosinophilic granular contents, are primarily involved in the elaboration of proteinaceous secretions, form one of important constituents of the secretory elements in the epithelium at different regions of the oral cavity of R. rita. A literature search revealed that the cells similar in appearance to SGCs (present study) have also been observed in the skin, gills and gut tissues of different fish species and have been described variously as “rodlet cells” (Weisel, 1971),
Acknowledgements
Madhu Yashpal was supported as a Project Associate under the Major Research Project No. F.3-131/2003 (SR) (Principal Investigator: Prof. A.K. Mittal) sanctioned by the University Grants Commission, Government of India.
References (46)
- et al.
Histochemical analysis of glycoconjugate secretion in the alimentary canal of Anguilla anguilla L.
Acta Histochem.
(2005) - et al.
Skin morphology and humoral non-specific defence parameters of mucus and plasma in rainbow trout, coho and Atlantic salmon
Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A
(2002) - et al.
Mucin histochemistry of the digestive tract of the red-legged frog Rana aurora aurora
Acta Histochem.
(2001) - et al.
Histochemical analysis of glycoproteins in the secretory cells in the gill epithelium of a catfish, Rita rita (Siluriformes, Bagridae)
Tissue Cell
(2009) - et al.
Co-secretion of soluble caveolin-1 and pepsinogen in the oesophagus of the red-legged frog Rana aurora aurora
Acta Histochem.
(2004) Methods in elastic tissue biology: elastin isolation and purification
Methods
(2008)- et al.
Cutaneous granular glands and amphibian venoms
Comp. Biochem. Physiol.
(1995) - et al.
Histochemical characterization of glycoproteins in the buccal epithelium of a catfish Rita rita
Acta Histochem.
(2007) - et al.
Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques
(2002) - et al.
A cytochemical study of the Chloride Cells” in the skin of a freshwater teleost (Channa striata (Bl.) Channidae, Pisces)
Acta Histochem.
(1975)
The serous cell
Annu. Rev. Physiol.
Acidophilic granular cells in the epidermis of the brown trout (Salmo trutta L.)
Cell Tissue Res.
Localization, physiological significance and possible clinical implication of gastrointestinal melatonin
Biol. Signals Recept.
Role of serotonin in gastrointestinal physiology and pathology
Minerva Endocrinol.
Morphological re-evaluation of the parotoid glands of Bufo ictericus (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)
Contrib. Zool.
Role of nonciliated cells in renewal of the bronchial epithelium of rats exposed to NO2
Am. J. Pathol.
Histochemistry of the development of the digestive system of Siberian sturgeon during early ontogeny
J. Fish Biol.
Diabetes and oral changes: the tryptophan metabolism link?
J. Clin. Diagn. Res.
New developments in fish amino acid nutrition: towards functional and environmentally oriented aquafeeds
Amino Acids
Neurohormonal peptides, serotonin and nitric oxide synthase in the enteric nervous system and endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract of neotenic and thyroid hormone-treated axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum)
Cell Tissue Res.
Histochemistry of the unicellular glands in relation to their physiological significance in the epidermis of Monopterus cuchia (Synbranchiformes, Pisces)
J. Zool., Lond.
Functional organisation of the skin of the green-puffer fish, Tetraodon fluviatilis (Ham. Buch.) (Tetraodontidae, Pisces)
Zoomorphologie
A note on cold anaesthesia of poikilotherms
J. Fish Biol.
Cited by (10)
In-depth proteomic analysis of Boleophthalmus pectinirostris skin mucus
2019, Journal of ProteomicsCitation Excerpt :Fish skin is a conserved cellular structure organized into stratified cellular sheets consisting of the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis [1]. In general, the epidermis of fish skin consists of superficial and basal epidermal cells of various types, including goblet cells (GCs) [2], sacciform cells [3], club cells [4], swollen cells [5], dendritic-like cells [6], cutaneous neuroepithelial cells [7], and leukocytes [8,9]. Fish skin mucus is mainly produced by GCs, and other cell types of skin also contribute to the mucus layer [10].
Migratory Activities and Stemness Properties of Rodlet Cells
2020, Microscopy and MicroanalysisComparative analysis of the small and large intestines of Acará Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Pisces: Cichlidae)
2022, Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series C: Anatomia Histologia Embryologia
- 1
Present address: 9, Mani Nagar, Kandawa, Near Chitaipur Crossing, Varanasi 221 106, Uttar Pradesh, India.