Chloride cells - Chloride cells

Chloride cells are special large acidophilic cells rich in mitochondria found in the gills of bony fish. Saltwater fish swallow seawater, absorb it in their intestines, and excrete excess salts from their gills; this is done by chloride cells. These cells are usually distributed as single cells penetrating the epithelial cell layer of the gills, with their bases in contact with blood vessels and their other ends forming depressions (pits) that are in contact with the outside water. They are also found in freshwater fish, but are few in number and small in size. However, it is known that when a freshwater eel is transferred to seawater, for example, the chloride cells develop and form saltwater eel-type gills.

[Masayuki Uchibori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

硬骨魚類のえらにある、ミトコンドリアに富む好酸性の特殊な大形細胞。海水魚は海水を飲み込んで腸で吸収し、余分の塩類をえらから排出するが、塩類細胞がこれを行う。この細胞は普通、えらの上皮細胞層を貫くようにして単細胞として分布し、基底部は血管に接し、他端はくぼみ（ピット）を形成して外界の水に接する。淡水魚にも存在するが数は少なく小形である。しかし、たとえば淡水ウナギを海水に移すと、塩類細胞が発達し海水ウナギ型のえらとなることが知られている。

［内堀雅行］

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