Changes in mucus cell numbers in the epidermis of the Atlantic salmon at the onset of smoltification

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: O'Byrne‐Ring, N., Dowling, K., Cotter, D., Whelan, K., MacEvilly, U.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2003
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.00273.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2003.00273.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.00273.x

A sharp decrease to <50% in the numbers of mucus cells mm −2 of epidermis was observed in the skin of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar at the beginning of the smoltification period in 1997 and 1999. Average numbers decreased in 1997 from 662 mm −2 on 6 March to 275 mm −2 on 20 March and in 1999 from 828 mm −2 on 3 March to 388 mm 2 on 24 March. A second smaller decrease was observed towards the end of smoltification in both years.