Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of the lateral line mechanoreceptors in the catfish Silurus glanis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Naturwissenschaften Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In fish the neuromasts of the lateral line develop as follows: a “migrating primordium” (MP) migrates from the postotic placode along the future posterior lateral line canal to the tail fin. Its placodal cells are assumed to be the basis for the development of the neuromasts. However, an MP was not found in all fish, e.g., in catfish. In the present study, a search was made for the MP in the larvae of the catfish Silurus glanis. Using light and electron microscopy, an MP was found to migrate along the ventral rim of the tail. It precedes the formation of a ventral row of free neuromasts. An MP preceding the main lateral row of the future canal neuromasts was not found. The necessity of the MP for the ventral-free neuromast development is shown by making incisions which block its migration. The result: caudal to the incision site neuromasts do not develop. On the other hand, the same incision procedure applied to the assumed migration route of a—hypothetical—lateral MP does not block the development of the lateral neuromasts. It is concluded that in this case an MP is not necessary for the development of the canal neuromasts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey SW (1937) An experimental study on the origin of lateral line structures in embryonic and adult teleosts. J Exp Zool 76:187–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bensouilah M, Denizot JP (1994) Formation of new sensory cells in deafferented tuberous organs of the gymnotid fish Eigenmannia virescens. J Neurosci Res 39:545–555

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bensouilah M, Veron-Ravaille M, Blahser S, Denisot JP (1995) Postembryonic differentiation of a cutaneous electroreceptor. C R Acad Sci III 318:1029–1035

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collazo A, Frazer SE, Mabee PM (1994) A dual embryonic origin for vertebrate mechanoreceptors. Science 264:426–430

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsch B, Zakon HH, Sanchez DY (1990) Time course of structural changes in regenerating electroreceptors of a weakly electric fish. J Comp Neurol 300:386–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gompel NC, Damply-Chaudiere C, Ghysen A (2001a) Neuronal differences prefigure somatotopy in the zebrafish lateral line. Development 128:387–393

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gompel N, Cubedo N, Thisse C, Thisse B, Dambly-Chaudiere C, Ghysen A (2001b) Pattern formation in the lateral line of zebrafish. Mech Dev 105:69–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hilger V (2004) Untersuchung der zwei Primordien und der ersten mechanosensorischen Nervenfasern bei Silurus glanis. Diploma Thesis, University of Munich

  • Joergensen JM, Flock A (1976) Non-innervated sense organs of the lateral line: development in the regenerating tail of the salamander Ambystoma mexicanum. J Neurocytol 5:33–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laguerre L, Ghysen A, Dambly-Chaudiere C (2009) Mitotic patterns in the migrating lateral line cells of zebrafish embryos. Dev Dyn 238:1042–1051

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landacre FL (1910) The origin of the cranial ganglia in Ameiurus. J Comp Neurol 20:309–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe WK (1985) Sensory neuron growth cones comigrate with posterior lateral line primordial cells in zebrafish. J Comp Neurol 238:218–224

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe WK (1989) Organization and development of the zebrafish posterior lateral line. In: Coombs S, Görner P, Münz H (eds) Mechanosensory lateral line: neurobiology and evolution. Springer, New York, pp 147–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcutt RG (2003) Development of the lateral line system in the channel catfish. In: Browman HI, Berit Skiftesvik A (eds) The Big Fish Bang. Proc. 26th Annual Larval Fish Conference. Institute of Marine Research, Postboks 1870 Nordnes N-5817 Bergen Norway

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcutt RG, Holmes PH, Albert JS (2000) Distribution and innervation of lateral line organs in the channel catfish. J Comp Neurol 421:570–592

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson KC, Jarett L, Finke EH (1960) Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol 35:313–323

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A (1985) Axonal flow in the afferent fibre maintains the electroreceptor in the skin of fish. Naturwissenschaften 72:380

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A (1986) Afferent nerve fibres induce electroreceptors in the skin of fish. Naturwissenschaften 73:264–265

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A (1987) Lateral line organs. Specificity of the organ-controlling substances in the afferent nerve fibre. Naturwissenschaften 74:495–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A (1993) Regenerative outgrowth and distribution of the electroreceptive nerve fibres in the catfish Kryptopterus. J Comp Neurol 328:473–484

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A (2003) Development of catfish lateral line organs: electroreceptors require innervation although mechanoreceptors do not. Naturwissenschaften 90:251–225

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A (2006) Axon guidance during establishment of electroreceptor innervation in the catfish Kryptopterus. Eur J Neurosci 23:1129–1141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A, Szabo T (1969) The effect of sensory nerve transection on the sensory cells and on the receptor potential of the tuberous (Knollen-) organ in mormyrid fish (Gnathonemus sp.). Z Vgl Physiol 62:395–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth A, Wittmaak J (1991) Functioning of normal and ectopic electroreceptors. Naturwissenschaften 78:322–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sapède D, Gompel N, Damply-Chaudière C, Ghysen A (2002) Cell migration in the postembryonic development of the fish lateral line. Development 129:605–615

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sato M (1955) On the development of the neuromasts of the carp. Jap J Ichthyol 4:105–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava MDL, Srivastava CBL (1969) The development of neuromasts in Cirrhina mrigala Ham. Buch. (Cyprinidae) and Ophicephalus (Channa) punctatus Bloch (Channidae). J Morph 122:321–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Trump WJ, Coombs S, Duncan K, McHenry MJ (2010) Gentamycin is ototoxic to all hair cells in the fish lateral line system. Hear Res 261:42–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vischer HA (1989) The development of lateral-line receptors in Eigenmannia (Teleostei, Gymnotiformes). I: The mechanoreceptive lateral line system. Brain Behav Evol 33:205–222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vischer HA (1995) Electroreceptor development in the electric fish Eigenmannia—a histological and ultrastructural study. J Comp Neurol 360:81–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vischer HA, Heiligenberg W (1989) The development of electro- and mechanoreceptors in Eigenmannia is induced by innervation of epidermal cells. Soc Neurosci Abstr 51:291

    Google Scholar 

  • Vischer HA, Lannoo MJ, Heiligenberg W (1989) Development of the electrosensory nervous system in Eigenmannia (Gymnotiformes). I: the peripheral nervous system. J Comp Neurol 290:16–40

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weisleder P, Lu Y, Zakon HH (1994) Effects of denervation upon receptor cell survival and basal cell proliferation in tuberous electroreceptor organs of a weakly electric fish. J Comp Neurol 347:545–552

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weisleder P, Lu Y, Zakon HH (1996) Tuberous electroreceptor organs form in denervated regenerating skin of a weakly electric fish. J Comp Neurol 367:563–574

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson HV (1891) The embryology of the sea bass (Serranus atrarius). Bull U S Fish Comm 9:209–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson HV, Mattocks JE (1897) The lateral sensory anlage in the salmon. Anat Anz 13:658–660

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Alain Ghysen and Dora Sapède, University of Montpellier, for collegial help in research, George Boyan for help with Englisch style, Jindra Cihakova and Regine Pahl for technical assistance, and the commercial breeders Dr. Proske, Uehlfeld, and Mr. Ottolübker, Ahrenhorster Edelfish, for repeated free supply of fertilized Silurus eggs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Biologie II, Biozentrum, Grosshadernerstr. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany

    Anton Roth

  2. Weinbergstr. 78, 83370, Seeon, Germany

    Anton Roth

Authors
  1. Anton Roth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anton Roth.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roth, A. Development of the lateral line mechanoreceptors in the catfish Silurus glanis . Naturwissenschaften 97, 645–653 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-010-0680-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-010-0680-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation