Evidence for two secretory cell types in the Stannius bodies of the teleosts Fundulus heteroclitus and Carassius auratus.

The Stannius bodies of killifish and goldfish were ultrastructurally investigated after exposure of the fish to media of different osmolality and calcium content. In both species two structurally different secretory cell types are found. Type-1 cells predominate. They contain an extensive granular endoplasmic reticulum, some large Golgi areas, and secretory granules with a mean diameter of about 0.4 micron. These cells are activated by transfer of freshwater fish to seawater, but not by transfer to low-calcium seawater. Type-2 cells often contain cytoplasmic processes that penetrate between the type-1 cells and are ending on the basal lamina. In this contact area granule release takes place. Type-2 cells contain some strands of granular endoplasmic reticulum, several small Golgi areas, and secretory granules with a mean diameter between 0.15 and 0.20 micron. Type-2 cells are not activated after transfer of fish to seawater. In killifish seawater exposure leads to a reduction of type-2 cells. The differences between the reactions of both cell types to different media point to functional differences between their secretory products. Type-1 cells may produce hypocalcemic factor. It is concluded that type-2 cells are typical for freshwater fish or euryhaline fish spending part of their life cycle in freshwater. The proper function of these cells is unclear.