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Related Experiment Videos

Fish gill morphology: inside out.

Jonathan M Wilson1, Pierre Laurent

  • 1Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), 4150-180 Porto, Portugal. wilson_jm@cimar.org

The Journal of Experimental Zoology
|July 13, 2002
PubMed
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Fish gills showcase diverse gross anatomy across major groups, yet share similar microscopic structures for efficient gas exchange and ion regulation, particularly mitochondria-rich cells. This review details these adaptations in agnathans, elasmobranchs, and teleosts.

Area of Science:

  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Fish Physiology
  • Ichthyology

Background:

  • Fish gills exhibit significant diversity in gross morphology across major extant groups: Agnatha, Elasmobranchii, and Teleostei.
  • Agnathans possess primitive gill pouches, while lampreys and elasmobranchs feature arch-like gills with complete interbranchial septa and external gill openings.
  • Teleosts display a reduced interbranchial septum and a single opercular opening, reflecting distinct evolutionary pathways in gill structure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the basic gross and microscopic anatomy of fish gills.
  • To compare gill morphology across major fish taxa, focusing on branchial epithelia.
  • To highlight the structure and function of mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) in fish gills.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparative morphological analysis of gill structures.
  • Review of existing literature on fish gill anatomy and histology.
  • Examination of branchial epithelia at the microscopic level.

    • Main Results:

    • Gill filaments support plate-like lamellae, forming the primary gas exchange surface with a thin epithelium and counter-current blood flow.
    • Despite gross anatomical differences, cellular constituents like pavement cells, ionocytes, and mucocytes are conserved.
    • Mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) are abundant in filament epithelia, characterized by high mitochondrial density and amplified basolateral membranes for ion regulation.

    Conclusions:

    • Fish gill morphology varies significantly in gross anatomy but maintains conserved microscopic features for efficient respiration and ion balance.
    • Mitochondria-rich cells are crucial for ionoregulation, exhibiting specialized structures across different fish groups.
    • Understanding these adaptations provides insight into fish physiology and evolutionary divergence.