Effects of environmental salinity on intercellular organization and junctional structure of chloride cells in early stages of teleost development

Morphology of chloride cells was studied in embryos, larvae and juveniles of ayu ( Plecoglossus altivelis ), carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) and flounder ( Kareius bicoloratus ). Chloride cells of seawater‐adapted fishes interdigitated to neighboring cells and linked each other with leaky junctions. No such interdigitation or a leaky junction was found in those of freshwater fishes. Larval ayu were able to tolerate direct transfer from fresh water to seawater even immediately after hatching. Juvenile flounder reared in seawater for 60 days were able to adapt to fresh water. Their chloride cells started developing or degenerating interdigitations and leaky junctions within 3 h after the transfer. Juvenile ayu of landlocked form caught in Lake Biwa survived in seawater for no longer than 6 h. Juvenile carp died within 12 h after transfer to 15%. seawater. Newly hatched flounder did not survive in fresh water for longer than 48 h. Their chloride cells did not show any morphological change, although the epithelial cells were severely damaged. Thus, the ability of chloride cells to modify their intercellular organization and junctional structure appears to play a critical role in salinity adaptation.