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Cytophysiology of Corpuscles of Stannius

1976; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0074-7696(08)60992-4

2163-5854

V. G. Krishnamurthy,

Physiological and biochemical adaptations

This chapter discusses the cytophysiology of corpuscles of stannius (CS). The corpuscles of stannius (CS) are encapsulated epithelial organs associated with the kidneys of teleost fish. Their presence is also observed in the holosteans, amia and lepisosteus, but they have no known homolog in other vertebrates. Synthesis, conversion, and storage of corticosteroids, calcium-ion regulation, and renin secretion are some of the functions attributed to the CS. The chapter discusses the structure and physiology of the cells that comprise the CS. Emphasis is placed on experimental results relating to their function. Anatomical data suggesting the existence of two types of cells in the CS, different tissues organized into similar-looking organs (tubule corpuscles and duct corpuscles), or the same cell performing different functions at different periods await verification on an extensive basis, probably employing electron microscope and cytochemical techniques. If this suspected possibility is found to be true, these studies would constitute a major step in our attempt to understand the function of the CS. These observations would confirm the steroidogenic role of the CS, if any, which is one of the three possible roles attributed to the CS based on the available evidence.