PUBLICATION

New developments on gill innervation: insights from a model vertebrate

Authors
Jonz, M.G., and Nurse, C.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080722-8
Date
2008
Source
The Journal of experimental biology   211(Pt 15): 2371-2378 (Review)
Registered Authors
Jonz, Michael G.
Keywords
innervation, gill, neuroepithelial cell, NEC, mitochondria-rich cell, MRC, pseudobranch, zebrafish, oxygen sensing, ion regulation
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Branchial Region/innervation
  • Gills/innervation*
  • Hypoxia/blood
  • Models, Biological*
  • Oxygen/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
18626070 Full text @ J. Exp. Biol.
Abstract
The fish gill is a highly specialized and complex organ that performs a variety of important physiological functions. In this article, we briefly review the innervation of important structures of the branchial region, such as the gill filaments, respiratory lamellae and pseudobranch, and discuss the physiological significance of this innervation within the context of homeostatic functions of the gill, such as oxygen sensing and ion regulation. Studies in zebrafish utilizing techniques of confocal microscopy and immunolabelling, with specific antibodies against neuronal markers, have recently led to the characterization of innervation patterns in the gills not attained with traditional techniques of histochemistry and electron microscopy. We will discuss the association of putative sensory nerve fibres with O(2)-chemoreceptive neuroepithelial cells and the implications of dual sensory pathways for cardiorespiratory and vascular control. In addition, the idea of the neural control of ion regulation in the gill based on the apparent innervation of mitochondria-rich cells, and the role of innervation in the pseudobranch, will be presented.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping