On the ultrastructure of specific heart granules in teleosts

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Leknes, I. L., Sætersdal, T. S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1981
• Subjects: Gadus morhua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1981.tb03823.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1981.tb03823.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1981.tb03823.x

The ultrastructure and chemical reactivity of teleostean specific (‘atrial’) heart granules (SHG) are described. In atrial cells of Glyptocephalus cynoglossus and Gadus morhua , large aggregations of SHG occur in areas of the sacroplasm rich in glycogen and poor in myofibrils. The SHG often appear to be in a process of lysis. A number of heart granules were also noted in atrial cells of Cichlasoma meeki, Pistella riddlei and Sebastes viviparus . although large aggregations were not seen. The mean diameters of SHG in G. cynoglossus and S. viviparus are 110 and 210 nm, respectively. SHG are regularly found in ventricular cells, although less frequently than in the atrium. Ultrahistochemical tests suggest that the teleostean SHG mainly contain proteins.