Postembryonic changes in the peripheral electrosensory system of a weakly electric fish: addition of receptor organs with age. 1984

H H Zakon

The organization of the peripheral electrosensory system of the cheek was studied in an age-graded series of Sternopygus dariensis in Nissl-stained sections and silver-stained whole mounts of skin. As in other gymnotoids, both ampullary and tuberous electroreceptors are present. Small fish have only one ampullary organ or tuberous organ per axon, and the number of receptor organs per axon increases with age in both ampullary and tuberous systems. Large fish may have up to ten tuberous organs per axon, although the distribution of tuberous organs per axon is bimodal with one peak occurring at a single receptor organ per axon and the other peak shifting upward in relation to the age of the fish. The ampullary system adds receptor organs at a faster rate and a large fish may have 20 ampullary organs per axon. With increasing size, the number of sensory receptor cells in each organ remains constant for both types of electroreceptors. Evidence is presented for addition of new electroreceptor units by de novo production in small fish and increases in the number of organs in existing electroreceptor units by division of previously formed organs in medium-sized and large fish. As the surface area of the skin increases with growth, the density of electroreceptor units decreases and, although new receptor organs are still being added to existing receptor units, no generation of new receptor units occurs in medium-sized to large fish.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009411 Nerve Endings Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D011984 Sensory Receptor Cells Specialized afferent neurons capable of transducing sensory stimuli into NERVE IMPULSES to be transmitted to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Sometimes sensory receptors for external stimuli are called exteroceptors; for internal stimuli are called interoceptors and proprioceptors. Nerve Endings, Sensory,Neurons, Sensory,Neuroreceptors,Receptors, Neural,Neural Receptors,Receptors, Sensory,Sensory Neurons,Sensory Receptors,Nerve Ending, Sensory,Neural Receptor,Neuron, Sensory,Neuroreceptor,Receptor Cell, Sensory,Receptor Cells, Sensory,Receptor, Neural,Receptor, Sensory,Sensory Nerve Ending,Sensory Nerve Endings,Sensory Neuron,Sensory Receptor,Sensory Receptor Cell
D005399 Fishes A group of cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates having gills, fins, a cartilaginous or bony endoskeleton, and elongated bodies covered with scales.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012679 Sense Organs Specialized organs adapted for the reception of stimuli by the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Sensory System,Organ, Sense,Sense Organ,Sensory Systems,System, Sensory
D012867 Skin The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.

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