Seasonal loss of alarm substance cells in North American cyprinoid fishes and its relation to abrasive spawning behaviour

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1172-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jan F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Histological Examination ◽  
North American ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Epidermal Thickness ◽  
Mucus Production ◽  
Tentative Evidence ◽  
Substance Loss ◽  
Spawning Behaviour ◽  
Alarm Substance Cells

Histological examination of skin from preserved specimens of nine species of cyprinoids and one catastomid revealed seasonal loss of alarm substance cells in the males from seven cyprinoid species and reduction in the females from two species. Six of these species have abrasive spawning behaviour, while the behaviour of the seventh species has not been extensively studied. This is taken as tentative evidence that seasonal alarm substance loss is related to abrasive spawning behaviour. Several species also show seasonal changes in mucus production and epidermal thickness.

THE FRIGHT REACTION IN NORTH AMERICAN FISH

1963 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Pfeiffer
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Fish Skin ◽  
Cyprinid Species ◽  
Fright Reaction ◽  
Skin Physiology ◽  
Alarm Substance Cells

The fright reaction was found in five species of North American Cyprinidae including the predaceous northern squawfish, and in two species of Catostomidae. The threshold for Cyprinidae is 1/1000 N ("normal") extract or lower, that for Catostomidae at least a 1/100 N extract. The cyprinid species reacted very strongly to extract from other Cyprinidae but less strongly to catostomid extract; catostomid species reacted strongly to extract from other Catostomidae but less strongly to cyprinid extract. Salmon extract did not produce any reaction in Cyprinidae or Catostomidae. The epidermis of all species studied contained alarm substance cells; the epidermis of the Catostomidæ was very similar to that of the Cyprinidae. There was a relationship between number and size of the alarm substance cells (histology) and the quantity of alarm substance in the fish skin (physiology). The ability to respond to the alarm substance first appeared in young redside shiners at an age of 42 days, in young zebrafish at an age of 32 days, when the fish were kept at 26 °C.

Seasonal changes in the histology of the gonads and dorsal skin of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 2103-2109 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Mucous Cell ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Dorsal Skin ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Alarm Substance Cells ◽  
Dermal Connective Tissue

In central Saskatchewan gonad weights of male and female fathead minnows reach peak values between June 1 and July 31. The precise timing of the peak seems to be determined by local weather (temperature). Gonad histology shows a predominance of early gametogenic stages during winter with gametogene sis being completed in the spring. The histology of the dorsal skin is similar in both sexes during the nonbreeding season but males develop a dorsal pad during the breeding season. Pad development involves seasonal changes in epidermal thickness, mucous cell number, and dermal connective tissue thickness. Males also lose their alarm substance cells briefly during the peak breeding period.

Alarm Substance in Some North American Cyprinid Fishes

Copeia ◽  
1963 ◽  
Vol 1963 (1) ◽  
pp. 174 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Verheijen
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Cyprinid Fishes

scholarly journals Epidermal ‘alarm substance’ cells of fishes maintained by non-alarm functions: possible defence against pathogens, parasites and UVB radiation

2007 ◽  
Vol 274 (1625) ◽  
pp. 2611-2619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas P Chivers ◽  
Brian D Wisenden ◽  
Carrie J Hindman ◽  
Tracy A Michalak ◽  
Robin C Kusch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Information ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Uvb Radiation ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Saprolegnia Ferax ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Cell Production ◽  
Saprolegnia Parasitica ◽  
Alarm Substance Cells

Many fishes possess specialized epidermal cells that are ruptured by the teeth of predators, thus reliably indicating the presence of an actively foraging predator. Understanding the evolution of these cells has intrigued evolutionary ecologists because the release of these alarm chemicals is not voluntary. Here, we show that predation pressure does not influence alarm cell production in fishes. Alarm cell production is stimulated by exposure to skin-penetrating pathogens (water moulds: Saprolegnia ferax and Saprolegnia parasitica ), skin-penetrating parasites (larval trematodes: Teleorchis sp. and Uvulifer sp.) and correlated with exposure to UV radiation. Suppression of the immune system with environmentally relevant levels of Cd inhibits alarm cell production of fishes challenged with Saprolegnia . These data are the first evidence that alarm substance cells have an immune function against ubiquitous environmental challenges to epidermal integrity. Our results indicate that these specialized cells arose and are maintained by natural selection owing to selfish benefits unrelated to predator–prey interactions. Cell contents released when these cells are damaged in predator attacks have secondarily acquired an ecological role as alarm cues because selection favours receivers to detect and respond adaptively to public information about predation.

Effect of hormone treatments on alarm substance cell counts in the pearl dace, Semotilus margarita

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeaniene D. Smith ◽  
R. J. F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Mucous Cell ◽  
Cell Loss ◽  
Alarm Substance ◽  
Androgen Treatment ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Alarm Substance Cells ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Induced Changes

The seasonal loss of alarm substance cells that normally occurs in breeding male and female pearl dace, Semotilus margarita, could not be induced by treatment with androgen, estrogen, salmon gonadotropin, or prolactin. Treatment with carp pituitary did lead to a significant reduction in alarm substance cell numbers. Androgen treatment induced changes in tuberculation and mucous cell counts. Salmon gonadotropin and carp pituitary increased breeding colouration. Prolactin treatment increased mucous cell counts. The lack of response of pearl dace alarm substance cells to androgen contrasts with the situation in fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, where seasonal alarm substance cell loss is under androgen control. The difference may reflect differences in the annual cycle of secondary sexual characteristics.

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