The pale-grey interhepatocytic cells of brown trout (Salmo trutta) are a subpopulation of liver resident macrophages or do they establish a different cellular type?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1996

Authors

rocha, e (Author) ICBAS; monteiro, raf (Author) Other; pereira, ca (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology

Vol. 28

Pages: 357-368

ISSN: 1122-9497

Publisher: N I E Nuova Immagine Editrice

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Scopus - 8 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-E2R

Abstract (EN): Morphological studies on liver macrophages of fishes are very scarce and only available for a few species. Interhepatocytic cells viewed as macrophages mere detected in salmonids, including brown trout (Salmo trutta). However, the morphological diversity of those cells has not been fully described yet; moreover, the true identity of certain interhepatocytic cells is questionable. An ultrastructural descriptive study was then undertaken in brown trout to characterize the microanatomy of those interhepatocytic cells, and so, to shed some light on their true identity. Our results show that the putative interhepatocytic macrophages can appear either as organelle rich cells, with the morphology of typical macrophages, or as organelle poor cells. The latter can be further divided into pale cells and grey cells, according to the electron-density of their cytoplasmic matrix; apparently, grey cells have more mitochondrial density and their Golgi apparatus is more conspicuous. A few profiles with certain ultrastructural characteristics in common with the pale-grey cells but with intermediate electron-density are also observed; nonetheless, they are often very difficult to distinguish from less activated macrophages. Pale cells, grey cells and macrophages, share some morphological characteristics (location, shape, many free ribosomes, perinuclear centriole and microtubules) and may physically interact among them; moreover, each type may contact either with bile epithelial cells or with Ito cells. Cells with a specific ultrastructure were seen crossing the endothelium, being potential precursors of interhepatocytic cells. The findings are compared to those from other species, and the possibility that pale-grey cells may represent either a distinct cell population (pit cells?) or a subpopulation oi resting macrophages is discussed. It is concluded that our data does not exclude any of the two hypotheses and it is conjectured that morphological studies alone may not be sufficient to provide the final answer about their true identity.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12