Radial Polarity of the First Neuromast in Embryonic American Shad, Alosa sapidissima (Teleostei: Clupeomorpha)

In fishes and some amphibians, small changes in water flow or pressure are detected by neuromasts, the mechanoreceptive organs of the lateral-line system. The receptor components of neuromasts are hair cells. Each hair cell has a single long kinocilium located immediately adjacent to a series of sho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Copeia 1996-02, Vol.1996 (1), p.226-228
Main Author: Shardo, Judith D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alosa sapidissima
Canals
Clupeidae
Clupeomorpha
Embryos
Fishing lines
Freshwater
Hair cells
Herring
Innervation
Larvae
Receptors
Shad
Shorter Contributions
Stereocilia
Teleostei
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Summary:In fishes and some amphibians, small changes in water flow or pressure are detected by neuromasts, the mechanoreceptive organs of the lateral-line system. The receptor components of neuromasts are hair cells. Each hair cell has a single long kinocilium located immediately adjacent to a series of shorter stereocilia, which are graded in height with the taller stereocilia being closer to the kinocilium. The axis of the hair cell extends from the kinocilium through the middle of the series of stereocilia. The receptor potential of a neuromast is the sum of the responses generated by its hair cells. Thus, the structural and functional polarity of a neuromast is determined by the orientation of the axes of its hair cells (Flock and Wersall, 1962) and is said to be bidirectional. Unlike neuromasts with bidirectional polarity, the first neuromast to form in embryonic American shad (Alosa sapidissima) has radial polarity with the hair cells arranged in a circular pattern with each long kinocilium located peripheral to its series of shorter stereocilia. The arrangement of its hair cells differs from that of all other neuromasts of shad and is unique among neuromast configurations reported for teleosts (Flock, 1965; Coombs et al., 1988; Rouse and Pickles, 1991).
ISSN:0045-8511
1938-5110
DOI:10.2307/1446967