Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Catfish epidermal secretions in response to threat or injury

a novel defense response

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Arabian Gulf catfish (Arius thalassinus, Rüppell) secrete a thick layer of proteinaceous material when threatened or injured. The chemical and pharmacological properties of this material indicate that it may promote the healing of wounds. These studies suggest that the abrupt secretion of mucous-like gel in response to a perceived hazard is an externally expressed defense response; the secretion may have a primary function in healing injury beyond the commonly postulated roles of deterring predators or facilitating escape.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Al-Hassan, J. M., M. Thomson and R. S. Criddle: Composition of proteinaceous gel secretion from the skin of the Arabian Gulf catfish (Arius thalassinus). Mar. Biol. 70, 27–33 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Hassan, J. M., M. Thomson and R. S. Criddle: Accelerated wound healing by a preparation from skin of the Arabian Gulf catfish. Lancet 1–83, 1043–1044 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, A.: Mucus — a protective secretion of complexity. TIBS 8, 169–173 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, J. N.: Prolactin and osmoregulation in teleost fishes — a review. Gen. comp. Endocrinol. Suppl. 2, 10–25 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boylan, D. B. and P. J. Scheuer: Pahutoxin: a fish poison. Science, N. Y. 155, 52–53 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, C. M., A. S. Richard and M. M. Sigel: IgM antibodies in fish mucus; Soc. exptl. Biol. Med. Proc. 136, 1122–1124 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, J. S.: Mucous envelope formation in two species of Hawaiian parrotfishes. Pacif. Sci. 24, 490–493 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, A. M. and R. Endean: Epidermal secretions and the evolution of venom glands in fishes. Toxicon 11, 401–410 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Enomoto, N., H. Nakagawa and Y. Tomiyasu: Studies in the external mucous substances of fishes. VIII. Quantitative analysis of the mucous-polysaccharide from some fishes. 2. Basic and acidic sugar composition. Bull. Jap. Soc. scient. Fish. 29, 542–545 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Enomoto, N., H. Nakagawa, K. Matsuda and Y. Tomiyasu: Sialic acids in the external mucous substances and the cartilage of fishes. Bull. Jap. Soc. scient. Fish. 32, 442–445 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Enomoto, N. and Y. Tomiyasu: Studies on the external mucous substances of fishes. VI. Qualitative analysis of the mucouspolysaccharide from some fishes. Bull. Jap. Soc. scient. Fish. 27, 613–616 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Enomoto, N. and Y. Tomiyasu: Studies on the external mucous substances of fishes. VII. Quantitative analysis of the mucouspolysaccharide from some fishes. I. Neutral sugar composition. Bull. Jap. Soc. scient. Fish. 28, 510–513 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, T. C. and P. T. Grant: Glycoproteins in the external mucous secretions of the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa and some other fishes. Biochem. J. 106, 12 pp. (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, T. C. and P. T. Grant: Immunoglobulins in the serum and mucus of plaice, Pleuronectes platessa. Biochem. J. 115, 65 pp. (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, T. C., R. Jones and L. Reid: Identification of glycoproteins in globlet cells of epidermis and gills of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa, L.), flounder (Platichthys flesus, L.) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, Richardson). Histochem. J. 8, 597–608 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. and S. Hunt: Epithelial mucus of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.). Trans. Biochemical Soc. 1, 153–155 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedrick, J. L. and A. J. Smith: Size and charge isomer separation and estimation of molecular weight of proteins by disc gel electrophoresis. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 126, 155–164 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, K. G. and L. J. Griggs: Respiratory tract. In: The glycoconjugates, pp 215–237. Ed. by M. I. Horowitz and W. Pigman, New York: Academic Press 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Hora, S. L.: A note on the biology of the precipitating reaction of mucus of Boro fish, Pisodonphis boro. J. Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 29, 271–274 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, M. I. and W. Pigman: The glycoconjugates. New York: Academic Press 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Junqueira, L. C. U., A. M. S. Toledo and K. R. Porter: Observations on the structure of the skin of the teleost, Fundulus leteroclitis (L.). Arch. Histol. Jpn., Niigata, Jpn. 32, 1–15 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laemmli, U. K.: Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature, Lond. 227, 680–685 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R. W.: Fish cutaneous mucous: a new source of skin surface lipids. Lipids 5, 947–949 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liguori, V. R., G. D. Ruggieri, S. J. M. H. Baslow, M. F. Stempien and R. F. Nigrielli: Antibiotic and toxic activity of the mucous of the Pacific golden striped bass, Grammistes sexlineatus. Am. Zool. 3, 546 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, O. H., N. J. Rosenbrough, A. L. Farr and R. J. Randall: Protein measurement with phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193, 265–275 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyer, J. T. and M. J. Zaiser: Social organization and spawning behavior of the Pteroine fish, Dendrochirus zebra at Miyake-Jima Japan. Jpn. J. Ichthyol. 28, 52–69 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivereau, M. and J. Olivereau: Influence de l'hypophysectomie et d'un traitement prolactinique sur les cellules a mucus de la branchie chez l'anguille. C. R. Seances. Soc. Biol. 165, 2267–2271 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, W.: Alarm substances. Experientia 14, 113–168 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickering, A. D.: The distribution of mucous cells in the epidermis of the brown trout, Salmo trutta and the char, Salvelinius alpinus (L.). J. Fish Biol. 6, 111–118 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pigman, W.: Mucus glycoproteins. In: The glycoconjugates, pp 131–137. Ed. by M. I. Horowitz and W. Pigman, New York: Academic Press 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Primor, N. and E. Zlotkin: Ichthyotoxic and hemolytic action of the skin secretion of flatfish, Pardacharius marmoratus (Soleidae). Toxicon 13, 227–231 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay, W. B.: Integument and the environment: glandular composition, function and evolution. Am. Zool. 12, 95–108 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, M. W. and N. E. Cornford: Fluid friction of fish slimes. Nature, Lond. 234, 49–51 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rüppell, E.: Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika, Fishes des rothen Meeres, 144 S. 35 tauf Frankfurt a. M. 1828

  • Solanki, T. G. and M. Benjamin: Changes in the mucous cells of the gills, buccal cavity and epidermis of the nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius pungitius L., induced by transferring the fish to sea water. J. Fish Biol. 21, 563–575 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiro, R. G.: Studies on the monosaccharide sequence of the serum glycoprotein fetuin. J. Biol. Chem. 237, 646–652 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stabell, O. B. and R. Selset: Comparison of mucus collecting methods in fish olfaction. Acta Physiol. Scand. 108, 91–96 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, M., N. Mahanna, J. M. Al-Hassan and R. S. Criddle: Hemagglutination properties of proteinaceous gel secretions from the skin of Arabian Gulf catfish. Fed. Proc. 42, 2014 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thulesius, O., J. M. Al-Hassan, R. S. Criddle and M. Thomson: Vascular responses elicited by venom of Arabian Gulf catfish (Arius thalassinus). Gen. Pharmac. 14, 129–132 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Oosten, J.: The skin and scales. In: Physiology of fishes, Vol. I, pp 207–244. Ed. by M. E. Brown. New York: Academic Press 1957

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Frisch, K.: Zur Psychologie des Fish-Schwarms. Naturwissenschaften 26, 601–610 (1938)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winn, H.: Formation of a mucus envelope at night by parrot fishes. Zoologica, N.Y. 40, 145–149 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wold, J. H. and R. Selset: Glycoproteins of the skin mucus of char (Salmo alpinus L.). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 56B, 215–218 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Kuwait

    J. M. Al-Hassan & M. Thomson

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, 95616, Davis, California, USA

    K. R. Criddle, B. Summers & R. S. Criddle

Authors
  1. J. M. Al-Hassan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Thomson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. R. Criddle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Summers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. S. Criddle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Al-Hassan, J.M., Thomson, M., Criddle, K.R. et al. Catfish epidermal secretions in response to threat or injury. Mar. Biol. 88, 117–123 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397158

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397158

Keywords

Search

Navigation