Morphocytochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characterization of the head kidney of fat snook Centropomus parallelus

Abstract

This study characterized the structure and the morphocytochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural aspects of the head kidney (HK) of the fat snook Centropomus parallelus. The HK is enclosed by a thin capsule of connective tissue, from which fine trabeculae originate and branch into the interior of organ. In the parenchyma, there are aggregates of lymphoid cells containing populations of lymphocytes T immunopositive for CDRO45, in a nodular arrangement, around blood vessels and melano-macrophage centres. Among the cells that constituted these aggregates and surrounded them, were macrophages and monocytes, and their precursors, with strong immunopositivity for CD68, along with cells of the granulocytic lineage in various phases of maturation positive for lysozyme and PAS. Macrophages and chromaffin and interrenal cells are also present. Ultrastructurally, the HK comprises a reticulum-endothelial stroma consisting of endothelial cells, reticulocytes of the fibroblast type and macrophage type and a parenchyma with increased cellularity, principally blood cells of the erythrocytic, granulocytic, lymphocytic, monocytic and thrombocytic series.

Melanomacrophage functions in the liver of the caecilian Siphonops annulatus

“…) and hematopoietic tissue in fish (Santos et al. ). It is also used to study hepatocytes (Mills, ).…”

“…; Loumbourdis ; Santos et al. ). In agnathan and elasmobranch fish, melanomacrophages are found in isolation, whereas in osseous fish, these immune cells can cluster in an organized fashion, excepting the salmonids, where clusters are not dense, nor well defined (Agius & Roberts, ; Santos et al.…”

Cadmium and copper reduce hematopoietic potential in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) head kidney

“…However, head kidney is not the only site of hematopoiesis in fish. According to various authors (Glomski et al 1992; Houston et al 1996; Kobayashi et al 2006, 2007, 2008; Zapata et al 2006; Mulero et al 2007 and Santos et al 2011), other organs such as spleen, gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and intertubular tissue of trunk kidney ( mesonephros ) may also show hematopoietic activity. In some fish species, several hematopoietic organs are active, while in the others only one of them (Liu et al 2004; Mulero et al 2007; Patel et al 2009).…”

Histological and Ultrastructural Studies of the Unique Hemopoietic-Endocrine Organ of the Grass Carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844)

“…The granulopoiesis in the HK of grass carp includes eosinophilic, basophilic, and neutrophilic series, as observed in other teleosts (Meseguer et al, 1990). On the other hand, basophils have not been observed in some fish species (Santos et al, 2011), although they have been described for others (Köllner et al, 2001). The monocytes are very scarce in grass carp.…”

“…The HK is a unique, essential lymphomyeloid or hematopoietic organ in fish (Santos et al, 2011). The HK in teleost fish is homologous to the bone marrow in vertebrates and is a primary site of hematopoiesis until adulthood (Romano et al, 2002).…”