Zur Morphologie,Histochemie, Tagesperiodik und Biologie der Operculardrüse bei Labriden und Scariden (Pisces)

A mucous gland is described, which is responsible for the production of the slime envelope in scarids and labrids. For this gland the name ‘opercular gland’ is suggested. The gland is developed, to a greater or lesser extent, in most of the genera examined. Morphological and histochemical studies indicate that the form of the gland is characteristic of the genus. Labrids and scarids can be divided, histochemically, into 3 groups: (1) opercular gland secretes only neutral MPS; (2) opercular gland secretes both neutral and weakly acidic MPS; (3) opercular gland secretes neutral MPS, weakly acidic and strongly acidic MPS (the strongly acidic MPS are probably sulphated). Species are found in all 3 groups with granular cells which secrete a tyrosine containing glycoprotein. The fish can be made to produce the mucous envelope by stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system using pilocarpine. It is, therefore, assumed that the gland is controlled by the nervous system. Morphological studies of the gland show that the mucous is normally synthesised only in the evening, i.e. when it is needed; no storage takes place. Continuous light experiments have shown the gland to possess an endogenous rhythm of the same frequency as the fish's activity rhythm. Even those labrids which sleep under sand produce mucous. The average area of the longitudinal section of an opercular gland cell is more than 500 µ² in those species which produce a complete envelope, and usually somewhat less in the other species examined. The possible importance of the opercular gland in taxonomical and phylogenetical studies is discussed.