Abstract
The scleractinian finger coral Porites compressa has been documented to develop raised growth anomalies of unknown origin, commonly referred to as "tumors". These skeletal tissue anomalies (STAs) are circumscribed nodule-like areas of enlarged skeleton and tissue with fewer polyps and zooxanthellae than adjacent tissue. A field survey of the STA prevalence in Oahu, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, was complemented by laboratory analysis to reveal biochemical, histological and skeletal differences between anomalous and reference tissue. MutY, Hsp90a1, GRP75 and metallothionein, proteins known to be up-regulated in hyperplastic tissues, were over expressed in the STAs compared to adjacent normal-appearing and reference tissues. Histological analysis was further accompanied by elemental and micro-structural analyses of skeleton. Anomalous skeleton was of similar aragonite composition to adjacent skeleton but more porous as evidenced by an increased rate of vertical extension without thickening. Polyp structure was retained throughout the lesion, but abnormal polyps were hypertrophied, with increased mass of aboral tissue lining the skeleton, and thickened areas of skeletogenic calicoblastic epithelium along the basal floor. The latter were highly metabolically active and infiltrated with chromophore cells. These observations qualify the STAs as hyperplasia and are the first report in poritid corals of chromophore infiltration processes in active calicoblastic epithelium areas.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 531-543 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Coral Reefs |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Chromophore cells
- Coral disease
- Hyperplasia
- Porites compressa
- Skeletal tissue
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
Cite this
Comprehensive characterization of skeletal tissue growth anomalies of the finger coral Porites compressa. / Domart-Coulon, Isabelle J.; Traylor-Knowles, Nikki; Peters, Esther; Elbert, David; Downs, Craig A.; Price, Kathy; Stubbs, Joanne; McLaughlin, Shawn; Cox, Evelyn; Aeby, Greta; Brown, P. Randy; Ostrander, Gary K.
In: Coral Reefs, Vol. 25, No. 4, 01.11.2006, p. 531-543.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Comprehensive characterization of skeletal tissue growth anomalies of the finger coral Porites compressa
AU - Domart-Coulon, Isabelle J.
AU - Traylor-Knowles, Nikki
AU - Peters, Esther
AU - Elbert, David
AU - Downs, Craig A.
AU - Price, Kathy
AU - Stubbs, Joanne
AU - McLaughlin, Shawn
AU - Cox, Evelyn
AU - Aeby, Greta
AU - Brown, P. Randy
AU - Ostrander, Gary K.
PY - 2006/11/1
Y1 - 2006/11/1
N2 - The scleractinian finger coral Porites compressa has been documented to develop raised growth anomalies of unknown origin, commonly referred to as "tumors". These skeletal tissue anomalies (STAs) are circumscribed nodule-like areas of enlarged skeleton and tissue with fewer polyps and zooxanthellae than adjacent tissue. A field survey of the STA prevalence in Oahu, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, was complemented by laboratory analysis to reveal biochemical, histological and skeletal differences between anomalous and reference tissue. MutY, Hsp90a1, GRP75 and metallothionein, proteins known to be up-regulated in hyperplastic tissues, were over expressed in the STAs compared to adjacent normal-appearing and reference tissues. Histological analysis was further accompanied by elemental and micro-structural analyses of skeleton. Anomalous skeleton was of similar aragonite composition to adjacent skeleton but more porous as evidenced by an increased rate of vertical extension without thickening. Polyp structure was retained throughout the lesion, but abnormal polyps were hypertrophied, with increased mass of aboral tissue lining the skeleton, and thickened areas of skeletogenic calicoblastic epithelium along the basal floor. The latter were highly metabolically active and infiltrated with chromophore cells. These observations qualify the STAs as hyperplasia and are the first report in poritid corals of chromophore infiltration processes in active calicoblastic epithelium areas.
AB - The scleractinian finger coral Porites compressa has been documented to develop raised growth anomalies of unknown origin, commonly referred to as "tumors". These skeletal tissue anomalies (STAs) are circumscribed nodule-like areas of enlarged skeleton and tissue with fewer polyps and zooxanthellae than adjacent tissue. A field survey of the STA prevalence in Oahu, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, was complemented by laboratory analysis to reveal biochemical, histological and skeletal differences between anomalous and reference tissue. MutY, Hsp90a1, GRP75 and metallothionein, proteins known to be up-regulated in hyperplastic tissues, were over expressed in the STAs compared to adjacent normal-appearing and reference tissues. Histological analysis was further accompanied by elemental and micro-structural analyses of skeleton. Anomalous skeleton was of similar aragonite composition to adjacent skeleton but more porous as evidenced by an increased rate of vertical extension without thickening. Polyp structure was retained throughout the lesion, but abnormal polyps were hypertrophied, with increased mass of aboral tissue lining the skeleton, and thickened areas of skeletogenic calicoblastic epithelium along the basal floor. The latter were highly metabolically active and infiltrated with chromophore cells. These observations qualify the STAs as hyperplasia and are the first report in poritid corals of chromophore infiltration processes in active calicoblastic epithelium areas.
KW - Chromophore cells
KW - Coral disease
KW - Hyperplasia
KW - Porites compressa
KW - Skeletal tissue
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746426700&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746426700&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00338-006-0133-6
DO - 10.1007/s00338-006-0133-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33746426700
VL - 25
SP - 531
EP - 543
JO - Coral Reefs
JF - Coral Reefs
SN - 0722-4028
IS - 4
ER -