Characterisation and 3D structure of melanomacrophage centers in shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius)

Mai Dang; Cameron Nowell; Tam Nguyen; Lis Bach; Christian Sonne; Rasmus Nørregaard; Megan Stride; Barbara Nowak

doi:10.1016/j.tice.2019.02.003

Characterisation and 3D structure of melanomacrophage centers in shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius)

Tissue Cell. 2019 Apr:57:34-41. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2019.02.003. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Authors

Mai Dang¹, Cameron Nowell², Tam Nguyen³, Lis Bach⁴, Christian Sonne⁴, Rasmus Nørregaard⁴, Megan Stride⁴, Barbara Nowak⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia; Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Veterinary Research and Development of Central Vietnam, km 4, 2/4 Street, Vinh Hoa, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, 57000, Viet Nam. Electronic address: thi.dang@utas.edu.au.
² Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
³ Department of Education and Training, Nha Trang University, 2 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, 57000, Viet Nam.
⁴ Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
⁵ Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia; Aarhus University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: b.nowak@utas.edu.au.

PMID: 30947961
DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2019.02.003

Abstract

Melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) are distinct aggregations of pigment-containing cells in internal organs of fish, amphibians and reptiles. Although MMCs are commonly used as biomarkers for anthropogenic exposure in many environmental monitoring programs, a substantial knowledge on characteristics of MMCs is required prior to the assessment of MMC responses. The present study was the first to determine the 3D structure of splenic MMCs of a fish from a number of consecutive histology sections by use of the Fiji and AutoCad software. Most splenic MMCs of shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius) had spherical shape and limited variation in size (maximum diameter). We confirmed the close relationship between MMCs and blood vessels in spleen of shorthorn sculpins as 97% of investigated MMCs (60 whole MMCs over 510 μm thickness of the samples) were closely associated with splenic blood capillaries (mainly ellipsoids) at least once in a set of consecutive sections. In this paper, we describe variations in morphology, density, size, area, distribution, pigments and response to pathogens of MMC populations from different organs (spleen, kidney, liver, pancreas and gills). Additionally, we provide evidence suggesting the presence and dominance of pheomelanin in MMCs of shorthorn sculpins.

Keywords: 3D structure; Melanin; Melanomacrophage centers; Pheomelanin; Shorthorn sculpin.

MeSH terms

Animals
Macrophages / cytology*
Melanophores / cytology*
Perciformes / anatomy & histology*