Marginal cells in the spinal cord of four elasmobranchs (Torpedo marmorata, T. torpedo, Raja undulata and Scyliorhinus canicula): evidence for homology with lamprey intraspinal stretch receptor neurons.

This study reports for the first time the presence of marginal cells, probably with stretch receptor function, in the spinal cord of four elasmobranch species, two electric rays, Torpedo marmorata and T. torpedo, the skate Raja undulata and the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula. In all four species, the marginal cells were located close to the lateroventral surface of the cord and possessed thick dendrites which formed part of characteristic glomerular structures. In vitro retrograde labelling of the spinal cord of the dogfish with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) showed that some of these cells have contralateral projections. Ultrastructural study of normal and retrograde HRP-labelled material showed that the glomerular dendrites of marginal cells give rise to numerous fingerlike structures and are associated with a rich plexus of nerve terminals. Characteristically, these dendrites contain numerous mitochondria. Immunocytochemical studies revealed a rich plexus of somatostatin- and GABA-immunoreactive fibres in the glomeruli. These results strongly suggest that the marginal cells of the elasmobranch spinal cord are stretch receptors homologous to lamprey edge cells and to the marginal nucleus cells of the spinal cord of urodeles and snakes. We discuss the possible role of these cells in the modulation of swimming movements.