DISTRIBUTION OF NEUROEPITHELIAL CELLS AND NEURONS IN THE TROUT GILL FILAMENT - COMPARISON IN SPRING AND WINTER

Study of the distribution of neuroepithelial cells and neurons along t he gill filament of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) showed that th e density of neuroepithelial cells is maximal near the extremity of th e filament, whereas the density of neurons is maximal at the base of t he filament. Comparison of densities in spring and winter shows that i n winter, neuroepithelial cell density diminishes whereas neuron densi ty increases; in spring, these relationships are inverted: neuroepithe lial cell density increases whereas neuron density decreases.