Early Stages in the Recovery to Injury in the Dorsal Fin of the Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)
The early stages in the recovery of the dorsal fin of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to a "clean cut injury" are described. It is concluded that the observed rapid epidermal migration, wound closure and cell mitosis are essentially the same in in-vivo as in in-vitro experiments. An accumulation of carbohydrate material occurs in the outermost layer of epidermal cells. There is a change in the carbohydrate composition or structure in the dermal layers at the site of injury. The basal epidermal cells rapidly divide in the in-vitro culture whereas only those basal epidermal cells in an in-vivo injury in close proximity to the injury divide. The surrounding nutrient medium in in-vitro cultures does not appear to be involved in the initial cell migration. However, ascorbic acid does stimulate epidermal migration, mucous secretion, and basal epidermal cell mitosis.