The influence of salinity on growth and structure of epidermal papillomas of the European eel <i>Anguilla anguilla</i> L.

Abstract

Abstract. Papillomatosis of the European eel Anguilla anguilla L. occurs predominantly in waters of low to medium salinity (3–20%). Tumour‐bearing eels were kept under laboratory conditions for several weeks in salt concentrations of 8, 15 and 30%. As opposed to those kept in freshwater, the experimental animals showed significant decreases in tumour growth rate. At the same time the tumour tissue underwent a marked redifferentiation, i.e. the originally poorly differentiated neoplastic tissue developed numerous mucous and club cells. The characteristic intercellular spaces of tumorous tissue disappeared with the formation of regular membrane interdigitations between adjacent cells. The nucleus to cytoplasm ratios of the neoplastic cells decreased to one‐third of those of the untreated tumour. These changes resulted in a reversion of the neoplastic tissue to a structural condition essentially similar to that of normal epidermis. After a period of 2 to 3 months an adaptation to the altered salinity of the external medium was evident in that the tumorous tissue began to return to its original state.