Ultrastructure of the swim bladder of the goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Abstract

The swim bladder of the cyprinid Carassius auratus (goldfish) is a two-chambered organ connected to the esophagus by a pneumatic duct. The anterior chamber is lined by a single type of squamous epithelial cell. Two types of epithelial cells are present in the posterior chamber. Flattened cells with differences in the electron density of the cytoplasm line most of the chamber. Darker cells generally contain large amounts of glycogen. Cuboidal epithelial cells also occur in the posterior chamber. A glandular layer external to the muscularis in the posterior chamber is composed of large cells containing little glycogen, an extensive Golgi apparatus, and numerous mitochondria with single large granules. Capillaries and nerves are present in large numbers in this layer. Blood vessels form micro-retia mirabilia in the submuscular layer external to the glandular layer. Vessels are of two distinct types with wide lumina and flattened endothelium characterizing the venous vessels. Arterial vessels and have smaller lumina, thick endothelial cells with prominent pinocytotic vesicles, and surrounding pericytes. Collagen is present in three forms in this swim bladder - large tactoids in the tunica externa of the anterior chamber, smaller tactoids in the lamina propria of the posterior chamber, and small fibrils in all other areas.