Ultrastructure of Rodlet Cells: Response to Cadmium Damage in the Kidney of the Spot Leiostomus xanthurus Lacépède

Abstract

Rodlet cell ultrastructure was studied in normal and cadmium-damaged kidney tissues of the spot Leiostomus xanthurus, an estuarine teleost. Rodlet cells in control fish occurred in all parts ofthe nephron except the tenal cotpuscle, were oblong to pear-shaped (about 5xl0 trtm), and contained up to 30 rodlet bodies, a basally situated nucleus, poorly developed mitochondria, and a filamentous cortex. Desmosomes Rodlet bodies, which were membrane-bound, club-shaped granules, were secreted by a merocrine process, apparently aided by contraction of the fllamentous cortex. New rodlet bodies were assembled in the Golgi apparatus. Mitochondria hypertrophied and developed well-defined cristae. The ultrastructural organization of the rodlet cells in this study and their responses to stimuli suggest that these are tissue or host cells rather than parasites as proposed by some authors. Further studies, however, are needed to conffum the nature of these cells.

The Ultrastructure and Histology of Hepatocellular Carcinomas of English Sole (Parophrys vetulus) from Puget Sound, Washington

“…With light microscopy, teleost rodlet cells may appear similar to the fibrillar-like bodies in neoplastic hepatocytes reported here. Typical rodlet cells have a filamentous cortex surrounding as many as 30 club-shaped bodies, each containing a dense core (22). Although the filamentous material within the cortex is reminiscent of the material filling the dilated RER in English sole hepatocytes, rodlet cells can be clearly distinguished from neoplastic hepatocytes by electron microscopy.…”

Seasonal changes in intra‐ and interorgan occurrence of rodlet cells in freshwater bream

“…The most recent studies have hypothesized these cells to form a part of the non-specific immune defence mechanism against infectious agents (Iger & Abraham, 1997), parasitic infections (Reite, 1997;Dezfuli et al, 1998) in epithelial tissues of fish, or to be a stress-or toxicant-induced type of fish cell produced in response to adverse environmental conditions (Smith et al, 1995). Indeed, exposure to cobalt and manganese (Vickers, 1962), heavy metals (Hawkins, 1984;Iger & Abraham, 1997), and the hepatocarcinogen -nitrosodiethylamine (Couch & Courtney, 1987) have increased the number of RCs in various target tissues. Also, poor water quality and chemical treatments (Smith et al, 1995), experimental wounding, as well as thermal elevation (Iger & Abraham, 1990;Iger et al, 1994), increase the occurrence of these cells in fish.…”

Seasonal changes in intra- and interorgan occurrence of rodlet cells in freshwater bream

“…: 206-860-3337; fax: 206-860-3335; email: kari.koponen@noaa.gov have hypothesized these cells to form a part of the non-specific immune defence mechanism against infectious agents (Iger & Abraham, 1997), parasitic infections (Reite, 1997;Dezfuli et al, 1998) in epithelial tissues of fish, or to be a stress-or toxicant-induced type of fish cell produced in response to adverse environmental conditions (Smith et al, 1995). Indeed, exposure to cobalt and manganese (Vickers, 1962), heavy metals (Hawkins, 1984;Iger & Abraham, 1997), and the hepatocarcinogen -nitrosodiethylamine (Couch & Courtney, 1987) have increased the number of RCs in various target tissues. Also, poor water quality and chemical treatments (Smith et al, 1995), experimental wounding, as well as thermal elevation (Iger & Abraham, 1990;Iger et al, 1994), increase the occurrence of these cells in fish.…”