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Investigation of the Morphology and Autonomic Innervation of the Lymphoid Organs in the Pantropical Spotted, Spinner, and Common Dolphins ('Stenella Attenuata', Stenella Longirostris' and 'Delphinus Delphis') Incidentally Entangled and Drowned in the Tuna Purse-Seine Fishery in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

PB2008111278

Publication Date	2002
Personal Author	Romano, T.; Abella, K.; Cowan, D.; Curry, B.
Page Count	25
Abstract	To help gain an understanding of the effects of repeated chase and encirclement on the immune system of dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), lymphoid organs including spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue, were collected from the pantropical spotted (Stenella attenuata), spinner (S. longirostris), and common (Delphinus delphis) dolphins incidentally entangled and drowned in the tuna fishery. Lymphoid organs were either snap frozen in liquid nitrogen or fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for general morphology using routine histological stains, or processed for autonomic innervation using immunocytochemistry. The lymphoid organs examined displayed a characteristic morphology of a functioning and intact immune system that includes well developed white pulp areas in the spleen; lymphatic follicles with germinal centers in lymph nodes; a well-developed thymus containing lobules made up of densely packed lymphocytes; and lymphatic follicles in the submucosa extending into the lamina propria of the large intestine. There appeared to be no indication of tissue involution as has been shown after stress in other mammals. However, it is important to keep in mind that prior chase/capture history of necropsied animals was not available and the small sample size for each species makes it impossible to detect a stress-related effect in each stock. Age-dependent changes in lymphoid organ morphology may influence disease susceptibility in young vs. older animals, however, this needs further investigationAn anatomical link between the brain and immune system exists in the dolphin lymphoid organs examined, whereby stress can affect immunocompetence. Catecholamine-containing and tyrosine hydroxylase positive (the rate-limiting enzyme in norepinephrine synthesis) nerve fibers form close associations with cells of the immune system in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node. Functional implications of these nerves in regards to immunity needs further investigation.
Keywords	Dolphins(Mammals) Immune system Entanglement Lymphoid organs Spleen Tuna fishery Lymph nodes Thymus Histology Spotted dolphin(Stenella attenuata) Spinner dolphin(Stenella longirostris) Common dolphin(Delphinus delphis) Purse-seine fishery
Source Agency	National Marine Fisheries Service
Corporate Authors	Texas A and M Coll., College Station.; Texas Univ. Medical Branch at Galveston.; National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Southwest Fisheries
Supplemental Notes	Prepared in cooperation with Texas Univ. Medical Branch at Galveston. Sponsored by National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Administrative rept.
NTIS Issue Number	200820

Investigation of the Morphology and Autonomic Innervation of the Lymphoid Organs in the Pantropical Spotted, Spinner, and Common Dolphins ('Stenella Attenuata', Stenella Longirostris' and 'Delphinus Delphis') Incidentally Entangled and Drowned in the Tuna Purse-Seine Fishery in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Investigation of the Morphology and Autonomic Innervation of the Lymphoid Organs in the Pantropical Spotted, Spinner, and Common Dolphins ('Stenella Attenuata', Stenella Longirostris' and 'Delphinus Delphis') Incidentally Entangled and Drowned in the Tuna Purse-Seine Fishery in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
PB2008111278

Publication Date	2002
Personal Author	Romano, T.; Abella, K.; Cowan, D.; Curry, B.
Page Count	25
Abstract	To help gain an understanding of the effects of repeated chase and encirclement on the immune system of dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), lymphoid organs including spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue, were collected from the pantropical spotted (Stenella attenuata), spinner (S. longirostris), and common (Delphinus delphis) dolphins incidentally entangled and drowned in the tuna fishery. Lymphoid organs were either snap frozen in liquid nitrogen or fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for general morphology using routine histological stains, or processed for autonomic innervation using immunocytochemistry. The lymphoid organs examined displayed a characteristic morphology of a functioning and intact immune system that includes well developed white pulp areas in the spleen; lymphatic follicles with germinal centers in lymph nodes; a well-developed thymus containing lobules made up of densely packed lymphocytes; and lymphatic follicles in the submucosa extending into the lamina propria of the large intestine. There appeared to be no indication of tissue involution as has been shown after stress in other mammals. However, it is important to keep in mind that prior chase/capture history of necropsied animals was not available and the small sample size for each species makes it impossible to detect a stress-related effect in each stock. Age-dependent changes in lymphoid organ morphology may influence disease susceptibility in young vs. older animals, however, this needs further investigationAn anatomical link between the brain and immune system exists in the dolphin lymphoid organs examined, whereby stress can affect immunocompetence. Catecholamine-containing and tyrosine hydroxylase positive (the rate-limiting enzyme in norepinephrine synthesis) nerve fibers form close associations with cells of the immune system in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node. Functional implications of these nerves in regards to immunity needs further investigation.
Keywords	Dolphins(Mammals) Immune system Entanglement Lymphoid organs Spleen Tuna fishery Lymph nodes Thymus Histology Spotted dolphin(Stenella attenuata) Spinner dolphin(Stenella longirostris) Common dolphin(Delphinus delphis) Purse-seine fishery
Source Agency	National Marine Fisheries Service
Corporate Authors	Texas A and M Coll., College Station.; Texas Univ. Medical Branch at Galveston.; National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Southwest Fisheries
Supplemental Notes	Prepared in cooperation with Texas Univ. Medical Branch at Galveston. Sponsored by National Marine Fisheries Service, La Jolla, CA. Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Administrative rept.
NTIS Issue Number	200820