Abstract for Poster presentation for ISTA9:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORRELATIVE MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUES TO
DEFINE MORPHOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE IN CHLORIDE CELLS OF
NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus (L.)) YOLK-SAC LARVAE.
Fridman, S.1, Bron, J.E.1 and Rana, K.J.1
1
Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland.
Abstract
The Nile tilapia, the predominant farmed tilapia species worldwide, displays an ability to thrive in low
salinity waters not otherwise used for culture of conventional freshwater fish. The ability of early life
stages to osmoregulate relies initially on chloride cells which are located on the body surface of
larvae. These specialised cells are responsible for the trans-epithelial transport of ions, this being
achieved using the transport protein Na+-K+-ATPase. In this study FluoroNanogold™ was used in
combination with a Na+/K+-ATPase antibody on yolk-sac larvae of Nile tilapia that had been incubated
and reared in brackish water. Chloride cells were detected directly by confocal scanning laser
microscopy and subsequently by transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy
confirmed the appearance of the structure of the chloride cells on the surface of larvae. Results
demonstrate that this integrated approach - used here for the first time on whole-mount fish
specimens – offers valuable insight into the cellular localisation of Na+/K+-ATPase and morphology of
chloride cells.