Structure of the tail fin in teleosts

Abstract

A morphologic study of the structure of the tail fin in eight species of teleosts was performed by aid of the Picrosirius-polarization method, which is a specific histochemical method for the detection of collagen in tissue sections. This structure is composed mainly of skeletal elements, the fin rays, covered by skin. Fin rays are bound to each other and to the surrounding tissues by a series of collagenous ligaments forming a complex, highly pliable and resistant structure. Although the general structural pattern of tail fins was consistent in all species studied, the comparative aspects reported in this paper show that variations in the form and size of their components are responsible for the morphologic diversities which are closely related to specific functional adaptations. Morphometric data on the number and size of actinotrichia in normal adult specimens are presented.

Morphometric study of the regeneration of individual rays in teleost tail fins

“…Lepidotrichia are segmented and each segment is formed of 2 hemisegments (right and left, in the tail fin) joined by ligaments in a parenthesis-like structure, which surrounds nerve bundles and blood vessels. The whole structure is covered by a typical epidermis (Becerra et al 1983). After partial ablation of the fin, the stump of each ray regenerates by an epimorphic process.…”

“…Whole mount preparations were obtained following staining with Picrosirius red (Becerra et al 1983). Histological slides were also used to verify 3-dimensional variables.…”

Tissue regeneration after injury in adult zebrafish: The regenerative potential of the caudal fin

“…Fin regeneration is a particularly efficient model for studying tissue regeneration. Although the fins may vary in shape, length, and color, they are built by identical skeletal elements (Becerra et al, 1983;Geraudie et al, 1995;Bennett, 1999, Kawakami et al, 2004;Lee et al, 2005;Murciano et al, 2007;Huang et al, 2009;Kizil et al, 2009). In response to injury, major fin structures may regenerate very rapidly in zebrafish.…”

Influence of indomethacin on the regenerative process of the tail fin of teleost: morphometric and ultrastructural analysis

“…The tail fin of teleost is composed of structural units named rays or lepidotrichia surrounded by a multilayered epidermis (Montes et al, 1982;Becerra et al, 1983). Each lepidotrichium consists of a pair of concave hemirrays formed by multiple segments joined end to end by ligaments (Becerra et al, 1983).…”

“…Each lepidotrichium consists of a pair of concave hemirrays formed by multiple segments joined end to end by ligaments (Becerra et al, 1983). The space between two hemirrays is filled with connective tissue and contains nerves, blood vessels, pigment cells and fibroblasts.…”