Читать книгу Clinical Guide to Fish Medicine - Группа авторов - Страница 35

Some species are able to generate electric charges using electrocytes within electric organs. These are disc‐like modified muscle cells. When stimulated, ions rush across cell membranes and create a small electric current. Stacks of cells essentially create batteries in series and produce an additive effect. These organs are innervated by the spinal cord and the potential voltage and frequency depend on fish species, activity level, and size (Kramer 1996; Helfman et al. 2009). Interestingly, these animals usually suffer no ill effects themselves from the electricity. It is unknown why, but reasons may include their body size, the directionality of the current, adipose under the skin, and structural proteins which provide electroprotection.