New data on morphology and ultrastructure of skin photophores in the deep‐sea squid Histioteuthis bonnellii (Férussac, 1834), Cephalopoda: Histioteuthidae

Abstract

Cavallaro, M., Battaglia, P., Guerrera, M.C., Abbate, F., Levanti, M.B., Andaloro, F., German a, A. and Laur a, R. 2017. New data on morphology and ultrastructure of skin photophores in the deep-sea squid Histioteuthis bonnellii (F erussac, 1834), Cephalopoda: Histioteuthidae. -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 98:271-277.Morphology and ultrastructure of skin photogenic organs in the deep-sea squid Histioteuthis bonnellii from the Strait of Messina (Mediterranean Sea) was investigated. The photophore is formed by a glandular complex, made up of photogenic cells involved in the light production process, and a set of annexes (filter, reflector, pigmented layer and gelatinous body), with suggested dioptric function. The photocytes have an elongated shape, often arranged in an approximately radial series within the chamber, and show eccentric rounded euchromatic nucleus. The filter shows a membranous tissue made up of rows of cells, rich in smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The analysis on reflector's cells highlighted the presence of several iridosomal platelets in the cytoplasm, having irregular and sinuous shape. The pigmented layer and the gelatinous body provide protection to the organ and may have dioptric functions too. The photogenic organs were found to be innervated by nerves, and it was possible to confirm the strictly glandular nature of the photophores of this species. The detailed anatomical descriptions of the photophores of H. bonnellii extend our current knowledge and provide a scientific basis for future studies aimed to relate the evolution of photogenic system to the ecology of this squid.

Structure and ultrastructure study on photophores of the Madeira lanternfish, Ceratoscopelus maderensis (Lowe, 1839), Pisces: Myctophidae

“…Thick sections (5 μm) were placed on glass slides and put in an oven for 24 hr. The sections, deparaffinized in xylene and rehydrated in a decreasing alcohol series, were submitted to the standard techniques of staining using the haematoxylin–eosin and Masson trichrome (Cavallaro et al., ).…”

“…Numerous marine organisms produce bioluminescence endogenously (e.g., Altun, Çeli, & Danabas, ; Cavallaro, Mammola, & Verdiglione, ; Cavallaro, Montalbano, Guerrera, Madrigrano, & Ammendolia, ; Cavallaro et al., ; Cavallaro, Battaglia, Laurà, Guerrera, Abbate, & Germanà, ; Robinson, ), but several cases of symbiosis, bacterially mediated, have also been documented (e.g., Altun et al., ; Herring, ; Widder, ). The majority of bioluminescent organisms has developed specific photogenic organs, having a large variety of structures (e.g., photophores, luminous lures, supracaudal and infracaudal organs), annexes (e.g., reflector systems), complexity and location, during the evolution process (Herring, ).…”

Evolutionary Conservation of Photophore Ultrastructure in Sharks: The Case of a Dalatiid Squalomorph

“…E. spinax hormone-induced luminescence shows the same type of effect; melatonin induces an increase in the granular inclusion diameter [29]. Within the vesicular area, D. licha photophores under melatonin and α-MSH stimulations show cellular activity with, respectively, the presence of empty and filled vesicles, which could illustrate the potential transport of components necessary for photogenesis as it is supposed for E. spinax [29] or other species like the cephalopod Histiotheuthis bonnellii [44]. During light emission, the D. licha ILS shows the same pigmented granules retraction event as E. spinax [29], causing the opening of the photophore at the ILS level (Figure 2).…”

Comparison of physicochemical and volatile flavor properties of neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii), jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas), and Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) during chilled storage

“…Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) and Masson staining analysis were carried out to evaluate the changes in the microstructure of muscle tissues according to the methods of Ando et al ( 19 ) and Cavallaro et al ( 20 ). Briefly, small muscle blocks (4.0 × 4.0 mm) were prepared from the longitudinal dorsal section of squid mantles.…”