Abstract

BONILLA LIZARAZO, Rocío Johanna et al. Histología y morfometría de piel del pez Eremophilus mutisii (Trychomecteridae, Siluriformes). Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2008, vol.56, n.2, pp.885-893. ISSN 0034-7744.

Skin histology and morphometry of the fish Eremophilus mutisii (Trychomecteridae, Siluriformes). The tropical freshwater fish Eremophylus mutisii is endemic to the Cundinamarca highland in Colombia. Skin samples (0.5x0.5 cm²) were taken from 11 specimens at six body parts (mandible, dorsal head, dorsal trunk, caudal trunk, medial trunk and abdominal area), fixed in 4% formaldehyde, dehydrated in 95% ethanol and 99% isopropanol, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5 µm. The skin is made of two mayor cutaneous layers (epidermis and dermis) and a subcutaneous layer (hypodermis). The epidermis presents three layers with secretory cells, epithelial cells and a few taste buds; the dermis is separated from the epidermis by a basal membrane. We observed fibroblasts, two layers of melanophors and some blood vessels; the hypodermis has vascularized adipose tissue. Skin thickness changes with body area; the dermis is thicker than the epidermis; skin has more club cells than mucous cells. The medial trunk area has the largest number of club and mucous cells. The skin of E. mutissi seems to mainly have a protective function. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (2): 885-893. Epub 2008 June 30.

Keywords : Eremophylus mutissi; skin; histology; morphometry.

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