366
(Ohtani et al. 2008 ). Two types of cartilages have been identifi ed in the hagfi sh.
The fi rst one contains the myxinin , also the elastin-like protein as the main component.
However, the second type of the hagfi sh cartilage superfi cially resembles notochord
cells and is of collagenous origin (Wright et al. 1984 ).
10.2 Fish Elastin
Elastin was identifi ed in both fresh water (Licht and Harris 1973 ; Serafi ni-Fracassini
et al. 1978 ; Isokawa et al. 1988 ; Raso 1993 ) and marine (Sanchez-Quintana and
Hurle 1987 ; Chow et al. 1989 ; Isokawa et al. 1990 ; Icardo and Colvee 2011 ; Braun
et al. 2003 ) fi sh species. For example, tropoelastin genes in developing and adult
zebrafi sh have been studied by Miao et al. ( 2006 ). These authors reported that:
“Expression of genes was detected early in skeletal cartilage structures of the head,
in the developing outfl ow tract of the heart, including the bulbus arteriosus and the
ventral aorta, and in the wall of the swim bladder. While the temporal pattern of
expression was similar for both genes, the upregulation of eln2 was much stronger
than that of eln1. In general, both genes were expressed and their gene products
deposited in most of the elastic tissues examined; with the notable exception of the
bulbus arteriosus, in which eln2 expression and its gene product was predominant.
This fi nding may represent a sub-specialization of eln2 to provide the unique architecture of elastin and the specifi c mechanical properties required by this organ,”
(Miao et al. 2006 ).
Thus, the places of elastin locations in fi sh organisms are:
– skin (Ferri 1980 ; Motta et al. 2012 );
– arterial system (Isokawa et al. 1990 ; Bushnell et al. 1992 );
– heart (Icardo and Colvee 2011 );
– notochord (Sagstad et al. 2011 ) and
– swimbladder (Perrin et al. 1999 ; Robertson et al. 2007 ).
Skin Ferri in 1980 represented detailed study on elastic fi bers, elaunin and oxytalan in the dermis of a teleost using optical and electron microscopy. The author
reported that the dermo-epidermal junction is the location place of oxytalan that was
identifi ed in the form of fi bers, which are bound by one of their extremities to the
basal lamina. The other extremity is observed to be in continuity with elaunin fi bers,
which, however, cross the entire stratum compactum perpendicularly. These fi bers
are interconnected to other elaunin fi bers, but in the deeper zone. Thick elastic
fi bers, forming an apparent continuous layer, have been identifi ed between the stratum spongiosum and the stratum compactum (Ferri 1980 ). Elastin was also identifi ed within skin of the blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus limbatus ) and of the shortfi n
mako ( Isurus oxyrinchus ). “The scales of the two species are anchored in the stratum laxum of the dermis. The attachment fi bers of the scales in both species appear
to be almost exclusively collagen, with elastin fi bers visible in the stratum laxum of
both species,” as reported by Motta et al. ( 2012 ).
10 Marine Elastin
(Ohtani et al. 2008 ). Two types of cartilages have been identifi ed in the hagfi sh.
The fi rst one contains the myxinin , also the elastin-like protein as the main component.
However, the second type of the hagfi sh cartilage superfi cially resembles notochord
cells and is of collagenous origin (Wright et al. 1984 ).
10.2 Fish Elastin
Elastin was identifi ed in both fresh water (Licht and Harris 1973 ; Serafi ni-Fracassini
et al. 1978 ; Isokawa et al. 1988 ; Raso 1993 ) and marine (Sanchez-Quintana and
Hurle 1987 ; Chow et al. 1989 ; Isokawa et al. 1990 ; Icardo and Colvee 2011 ; Braun
et al. 2003 ) fi sh species. For example, tropoelastin genes in developing and adult
zebrafi sh have been studied by Miao et al. ( 2006 ). These authors reported that:
“Expression of genes was detected early in skeletal cartilage structures of the head,
in the developing outfl ow tract of the heart, including the bulbus arteriosus and the
ventral aorta, and in the wall of the swim bladder. While the temporal pattern of
expression was similar for both genes, the upregulation of eln2 was much stronger
than that of eln1. In general, both genes were expressed and their gene products
deposited in most of the elastic tissues examined; with the notable exception of the
bulbus arteriosus, in which eln2 expression and its gene product was predominant.
This fi nding may represent a sub-specialization of eln2 to provide the unique architecture of elastin and the specifi c mechanical properties required by this organ,”
(Miao et al. 2006 ).
Thus, the places of elastin locations in fi sh organisms are:
– skin (Ferri 1980 ; Motta et al. 2012 );
– arterial system (Isokawa et al. 1990 ; Bushnell et al. 1992 );
– heart (Icardo and Colvee 2011 );
– notochord (Sagstad et al. 2011 ) and
– swimbladder (Perrin et al. 1999 ; Robertson et al. 2007 ).
Skin Ferri in 1980 represented detailed study on elastic fi bers, elaunin and oxytalan in the dermis of a teleost using optical and electron microscopy. The author
reported that the dermo-epidermal junction is the location place of oxytalan that was
identifi ed in the form of fi bers, which are bound by one of their extremities to the
basal lamina. The other extremity is observed to be in continuity with elaunin fi bers,
which, however, cross the entire stratum compactum perpendicularly. These fi bers
are interconnected to other elaunin fi bers, but in the deeper zone. Thick elastic
fi bers, forming an apparent continuous layer, have been identifi ed between the stratum spongiosum and the stratum compactum (Ferri 1980 ). Elastin was also identifi ed within skin of the blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus limbatus ) and of the shortfi n
mako ( Isurus oxyrinchus ). “The scales of the two species are anchored in the stratum laxum of the dermis. The attachment fi bers of the scales in both species appear
to be almost exclusively collagen, with elastin fi bers visible in the stratum laxum of
both species,” as reported by Motta et al. ( 2012 ).
10 Marine Elastin