The surface connected canalicular system of carp (Cyprinus carpio) thrombocytes: its fine structure and three-dimensional architecture.

The presence and the three dimensional distribution of the surface connected canalicular system (SCCS) in thrombocytes of a teleost, Cyprinus carpio, were studied using a transmission electron microscope, a high voltage electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope. When the specimens were fixed routinely in glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide, numerous electron lucent vesicles and canaliculi were distributed throughout the cytoplasm. As ruthenium red-positive reaction product was observed on the inner surface of the vesicles and canaliculi, these are defined as the SCCS of carp thrombocytes. In the stereo-pair of the photographs of thick sectioned specimens and the plastic reconstruction of serially sectioned thrombocytes, we succeeded in finding the whole structure of the SCCS which is composed of numerous anastomosing canaliculi. Scanning electron micrographs revealed many crater-like depressions throughout the cell surface which seem to be the openings of the SCCS.