Microampullary organs of a freshwater eel-tailed catfish, Plotosus (tandanus) tandanus

Whitehead, D. L., Tibbetts, I. R. and Daddow, L. Y. M. (2003) Microampullary organs of a freshwater eel-tailed catfish, Plotosus (tandanus) tandanus. Journal of Morphology, 255 2: 253-260.

Document type:	Journal Article
Collections:	Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) - Collection School of Biological Sciences Publications Centre for Marine Studies Publications

Author(s)	Whitehead, D. L. Tibbetts, I. R. Daddow, L. Y. M.
Title	Microampullary organs of a freshwater eel-tailed catfish, Plotosus (tandanus) tandanus
Journal name	Journal of Morphology
Publication date	2003
Sub-type	Article
Volume number	255
Issue number	2
ISSN	0362-2525; 1097-4687
Start page	253
End page	260
Total pages	8
Place of publication	New York, USA
Publisher	Wiley-Liss
Collection year	2003
Language	eng
Subject	C1 270503 Animal Anatomy and Histology 630300 Fish 780105 Biological sciences
Abstract	Whole body studies of Plotosus tandanus revealed that ampullary pores occur over the entire body of the fish, but are in higher concentrations in the head region. These pores give rise to a short canal (50-60 mum) produced by columnar epithelial cells bound together by tight junctions and desmosomes. At the junction. of the canal and the ampulla, cuboidal epithelial cells make up the wall. The ampulla consists of layers of collagen fibers that surround flattened epithelial cells in the lateral regions and give rise to supportive cells-that encase a small number of receptor cells (10-15). The ampullary wall comprises several types of cells that are adjoined via tight junctions and desmosomes between cell types. The ovoid receptor cells possess microvilli along the luminar apical area. Beneath this area, the cells are rich in mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum. An unmyelinated neuron adjoins with each receptor cell opposite multiple presynaptic bodies. This form of microampulla has not been previously described within the Family Plotosidae. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Keyword(s)	Anatomy & Morphology Ampullary Organs Freshwater Plotosidae Catfish Conductivity Salmontail Catfish Ampullary Organ Arius-graeffei Morphology