Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Anatomy logoLink to Journal of Anatomy
. 1997 Jun;190(Pt 4):545–561. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1997.19040545.x

Scale development in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

JEAN-YVES SIRE 1, FRANCOISE ALLIZARD 1, OLIVIER BABIAR 1, JACQUELINE BOURGUIGNON 1, ALEXANDRA QUILHAC 1
PMCID: PMC1467640  PMID: 9183678

Abstract

In the course of an extensive comparative, structural and developmental study of the cranial and postcranial dermal skeleton (teeth and scales) in osteichthyan fishes, we have undertaken investigations on scale development in zebrafish (Danio (Brachydanio) rerio) using alizarin red staining, and light and transmission electron microscopy. The main goal was to know whether zebrafish scales can be used as a model for further research on the processes controlling the development of the dermal skeleton in general, especially epithelial–mesenchymal interactions. Growth series of laboratory bred specimens were used to study in detail: (1) the relationship of scale appearance with size and age; (2) the squamation pattern; and (3) the events taking place in the epidermis and in the dermis, before and during scale initiation and formation, with the aim of searching for morphological indications of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Scales form late in ontogeny, generally when zebrafish are more than 8.0 mm in standard length. Within a population of zebrafish of the same age scale appearance is related to standard length, but when comparing populations of different age the size of the fish at scale appearance is also related to age. Scales always appear first in the posterior region of the body and the squamation then extends anteriorly. Scales develop in the dermis but closely apposed to the epidermal–dermal boundary. Cellular modifications occurring in the basal layer of the epidermis and in the dermis before scale formation clearly indicate that the basal epidermal cells differentiate first, before any evidence of differentiation of the progenitors of the scale-forming cells in the dermis. This strongly suggests that scale differentiation could be initiated by the epidermal basal layer cells which probably produce a molecular signal towards the dermis below. Subsequently dermal cells accumulate close to the epidermis, and differentiate to form scale papillae. The late formation of the scales during ontogeny is due to a late colonisation of the dermis by the progenitors of the scale-forming cells. Because of their late formation during ontogeny and of their regular pattern of development, scales in zebrafish represent a good model for further investigations on the general mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during dermal skeleton development, and in particular for the study of the gene expression patterns.

Keywords: Teleost fish, dermal skeleton, epidermal–dermal interactions

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.8 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Fox H., Whitear M. Genesis and regression of the figures of Eberth and occurrence of cytokeratin aggregates in the epidermis of anuran larvae. Anat Embryol (Berl) 1986;174(1):73–82. doi: 10.1007/BF00318338. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Kimmel C. B., Ballard W. W., Kimmel S. R., Ullmann B., Schilling T. F. Stages of embryonic development of the zebrafish. Dev Dyn. 1995 Jul;203(3):253–310. doi: 10.1002/aja.1002030302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Kollar E. J., Baird G. R. Tissue interactions in embryonic mouse tooth germs. II. The inductive role of the dental papilla. J Embryol Exp Morphol. 1970 Aug;24(1):173–186. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Lamers C. H., Rombout J. W., Timmermans L. P. An experimental study on neural crest migration in Barbus conchonius (Cyprinidae, Teleostei), with special reference to the origin of the enteroendocrine cells. J Embryol Exp Morphol. 1981 Apr;62:309–323. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Lanzing W. J., Wright R. G. The ultrastructure and calcification of the scales of Tilapia mossambica (Peters). Cell Tissue Res. 1976 Mar 5;167(1):37–47. doi: 10.1007/BF00220158. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lumsden A. G., Buchanan J. A. An experimental study of timing and topography of early tooth development in the mouse embryo with an analysis of the role of innervation. Arch Oral Biol. 1986;31(5):301–311. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(86)90044-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lumsden A. G. Pattern formation in the molar dentition of the mouse. J Biol Buccale. 1979 Mar;7(1):77–103. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Mina M., Kollar E. J. The induction of odontogenesis in non-dental mesenchyme combined with early murine mandibular arch epithelium. Arch Oral Biol. 1987;32(2):123–127. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(87)90055-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Nadol J. B., Jr, Gibbins J. R., Porter K. R. A reinterpretation of the structure and development of the basement lamella: an ordered array of collagen in fish skin. Dev Biol. 1969 Oct;20(4):304–331. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(69)90017-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Olson O. P., Watabe N. Studies on formation and resorption of fish scales. IV. Ultrastructure of developing scales in newly hatched fry of the sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus (Atheriniformes: Cyprinodontidae). Cell Tissue Res. 1980;211(2):303–316. doi: 10.1007/BF00236451. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Raible D. W., Wood A., Hodsdon W., Henion P. D., Weston J. A., Eisen J. S. Segregation and early dispersal of neural crest cells in the embryonic zebrafish. Dev Dyn. 1992 Sep;195(1):29–42. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001950104. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Sadaghiani B., Vielkind J. R. Distribution and migration pathways of HNK-1-immunoreactive neural crest cells in teleost fish embryos. Development. 1990 Sep;110(1):197–209. doi: 10.1242/dev.110.1.197. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Schönbörner A. A., Boivin G., Baud C. A. The mineralization processes in teleost fish scales. Cell Tissue Res. 1979 Nov;202(2):203–212. doi: 10.1007/BF00232235. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sire J. Y. Light and TEM study of nonregenerated and experimentally regenerated scales of Lepisosteus oculatus (Holostei) with particular attention to ganoine formation. Anat Rec. 1994 Oct;240(2):189–207. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092400206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Sire J. Y. Scales in young Polypterus senegalus are elasmoid: new phylogenetic implications. Am J Anat. 1989 Nov;186(3):315–323. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001860308. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Smith M. M., Hall B. K. Development and evolutionary origins of vertebrate skeletogenic and odontogenic tissues. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 1990 Aug;65(3):277–373. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-185x.1990.tb01427.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Thesleff I., Vaahtokari A., Kettunen P., Aberg T. Epithelial-mesenchymal signaling during tooth development. Connect Tissue Res. 1995;32(1-4):9–15. doi: 10.3109/03008209509013700. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Thesleff I., Vaahtokari A., Partanen A. M. Regulation of organogenesis. Common molecular mechanisms regulating the development of teeth and other organs. Int J Dev Biol. 1995 Feb;39(1):35–50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Thesleff I., Vaahtokari A., Vainio S. Molecular changes during determination and differentiation of the dental mesenchymal cell lineage. J Biol Buccale. 1990 Sep;18(3):179–188. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Vainio S., Karavanova I., Jowett A., Thesleff I. Identification of BMP-4 as a signal mediating secondary induction between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues during early tooth development. Cell. 1993 Oct 8;75(1):45–58. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. WEISS P., FERRIS W. Electronmicrograms of larval amphibian epidermis. Exp Cell Res. 1954 May;6(2):546–549. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(54)90210-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Waterman R. E. Fine structure of scale development in the teleost, Brachydanio rerio. Anat Rec. 1970 Nov;168(3):361–379. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091680304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Anatomy are provided here courtesy of Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

RESOURCES