Histology and ultrastructure of the chloride cell in freshwater-and sea water-acclimated specimens of Oreochromis mossambicus and O. spilurus

Abstract EN

Light and electron microscopic examination of the gill epithelia with their chloride cells is described for both fresh and seawater-adapted O.

mossambicus and O.

spilurus.

Vesicles of electron dense material were concentrated in the apical region.

In seawater-adapted fish, the chloride cells were more abundant and bigger in size, cytoplasm was darker and the tubular system more compact (the tubular system is an amplification of folding of the cell basolateral membrane) than thoste in their fresh water equivalents.

No evident relationship between the vesicles and the tubular system was observed Intercellular spaces along the basolateral membrane were observed in sea and fresh water adapted fish.

These spaces were continued with the tubular system of the cells.