Ontogeny of the digestive tract during larval development of yellowtail flounder: a light microscopic and mucous histochemical study

The histological development and mucous histochemistry of the alimentary tract in larval yellowtail flounder were studied using light microscopy. Samples were taken when the larvae were first offered food at 3 days post-hatch, then at 7, 10, 29, 36, and 46 days post-hatch, at which time they were metamorphosing. Regional partitioning of the digestive tract into the buccal cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, post-oesophageal swelling (PES), intestine, and rectum was complete by day 10. Goblet cells were present only in the buccal cavity, pharynx and intestine by day 7, but increased in number and distribution as development continued. By day 29, the posterior zone of the oesophagus had a marked increase in goblet cell density and mucosal folding. At the transition from oesophagus to PES/stomach stratified epithelium with goblet cells changed abruptly to a columnar epithelium with no goblet cells. Multicellular glands in the PES of 36-day larvae allowed it to be defined as a stomach. The distinct brush border of columnar epithelium and the presence of goblet cells characterize the intestine and rectum. All goblet cells throughout the digestive tract were strongly positive for acid mucins as was the luminal layer of the stratified epithelia lining the buccal cavity, pharynx and oesophagus. The PES/stomach epithelium stained weakly for neutral mucins. No mucin staining was associated with the gastric glandular epithelium. The brush borders of the intestine and rectum were strongly positive for combinations of neutral and acid mucins.     

Digestive enzymes in larval Coregonus lavaretus L.

Using histochemical methods, morphofunctional aspects of the alimentary tract of larval coregonids were investigated. Larvae of Coregonus lavaretus were reared for 34 days with either zooplankton or one of two dry diets. Ontogeny, localization and diet-related modifications of the following enzymes were examined: trypsin (luminal digestion), aminopeptidase, maltase, alkaline phosphatase (brush border-bound digestion) and unspecific esterase (intracellular nutrient processing). All of the enzymes studied were present in 13-day-old larvae. Except for the intracellularly located unspecific esterase, there was an ontogenetic enhancement of enzyme staining intensities accompanied by a significant increase in the volume of the intestinal mucosa. Enzyme activities differed within and between intestinal regions. This finding suggests that a spatial gradient of nutrient breakdown and absorption already exists in the morphologically and physiologically incompletely developed digestive system of larval coregonids. Digestive enzyme activities were modified in response to the dietary regimen. There was no obvious correlation between enzymic response and growth performance of the larvae.     

Assessment of digestive enzyme activities during larval development of white bream

Activity of some of the main enzymes involved in protein digestion and absorption (acid and alkaline proteases, leucine-aminopeptidase, acid and alkaline phosphatases) as well as those of amylase and lipase, was assessed during larval development of white sea bream Diplodus sargus . All enzyme activity was detected at the moment of mouth opening. The variations observed in the activity profiles of the digestive enzymes were correlated either to developmental events, such as the functional start of the stomach (22 days after hatching), or to changes in the nature of the diet. The early and noticeable development of digestive enzyme activities was linked to a high survival after weaning.     

Ontogeny of the gastrointestinal tract and selected digestive enzymes in cobia Rachycentron canadum (L.)

The ontogeny of the digestive system of cobia Rachycentron canadum from hatching to 22 days post-hatch (dph) (20·1 mm standard length) was examined with light microscopy. The activities of selected pancreatic enzymes were also determined during this period in order to optimize current rearing methods for this species. At hatching (3·6 mm), the digestive tract consisted of a relatively undifferentiated, straight tube positioned dorsally to the yolk sac. The major morphological changes in the digestive tract primarily occurred over the first 1–4 dph (3·6–4·4 mm). During this time, larvae began exogenous feeding (3 dph) and the digestive tract differentiated into five histologically distinct regions: buccopharynx, oesophagus, stomach anlage, anterior intestine and posterior intestine. Yolk reserves were exhausted by 5 dph (4·5 mm) and the oil globule began rapidly decreasing in size disappearing entirely by 9–10 dph (6·3–6·8 mm). Gastric glands differentiated at this time, and by 12 dph (8·1 mm) surface mucous cells of the stomach anlage stained positive for neutral mucosubstances. By 16 dph (11·6 mm), the blind sac (fundic region) of the stomach formed as did the pyloric caecae which initially appeared as a single protrusion of the anterior intestine just ventral to the pyloric sphincter. Generally, enzyme activities (U larva⁻¹) for amylase (0·0–1·8), chymotrypsin (0·0–7902·4), trypsin (0·2–16·6) and lipase (9·3–1319·0) were measurable at or soon after hatching and increased steadily from c. 8–22 dph (5·7–20·1 mm). The results of this study are discussed in terms of current and future weaning practices of this species.     

Development of the digestive tract in larval summer flounder

Histological changes of the digestive system and its associated glands, and structures of the jaw were studied in summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus from hatching (day 0) until day 44. Specimens for this study were hatched from artificially spawned broodstock and maintained in the laboratory (20 ± 1° C). During the first 3 days after hatching, the formation of the oral jaw apparatus, lengthening of the digestive tube, yolk resorption, and mucosae differentiation are the most conspicuous elements of development. The larval digestive system is morphologically ready to process external food at the time of mouth opening (3–4 days after hatching). Epithelial cells of the anteromedian and the posterior intestine show evidence of lipid and protein absorption, respectively, after first feeding. The most noticeable events occurring during the next month of independent life are an increase in mucosal folding, cellular differentiation in the luminal epithelia, gut segmentation and looping, and liver growth. Gastric glands and pyloric caeca appear by day 31 and complete the morphological digestive features characteristic of the juvenile stage.     

A comparative histological and histochemical study of the post-gastric alimentary canal from three species of pleuronectid, the Atlantic halibut, the yellowtail flounder and the winter flounder

The histology and mucus histochemistry of the pleuronectid post-gastric alimentary canal was examined using light and electron microscopy. Distinct differences in goblet cell mucus histochemistry were observed between species, with the two closest taxonomic species, the winter flounder and the yellowtail flounder showing the most diversity and the halibut showing regional variation. Numbers of goblet cells within post-gastric regions did not differ significantly between species, but were significantly different between regions within species increasing toward the rectum. The post-gastric region was divisible into two areas based upon the ultrastructural features of lipid digestion and absorption in the intestine and pyloric caeca, and of exogenous protein in the rectum. The combination of species-specific histochemical differences in mucus and general histological and ultrastructural differences within the post-gastric regions between these species suggest a correlation between lumenal environmental conditions/histology and natural prey preference.     

Histochemistry of the development of the digestive system of Siberian sturgeon during early ontogeny

At hatching, the yolk-sac matrix of Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baeri contained neutral glycoconjugates, glycogen, proteins rich in arginine, lysine, tyrosine, cysteine and cystine, glycoproteins containing mannose (Man) and/or glucose (Glc), N -acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc), L-fucose (Fuc), sialic acid and/or N -acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) residues, as well as neutral and acidic lipids. Buccopharyngeal and anterior oesophageal goblet cellls produced a combination of neutral and acid sialoglycoproteins, while those from the posterior oesophagus secreted only neutral glycoproteins; both types of secretions contained tryptophan and -S-S- groups and were unreactive to lectin techniques. Most intestinal goblet cells secreted mainly carboxylated and sulphated sialoglycoproteins with some rests of neutral glycoconjugates, while few of them produced only acid or neutral glycoproteins. Intestinal glycoproteins were rich in GalNAc, GlcNAc and sialic acid residues. Close relationships between digestive enzymes and morphological development of digestive organs were observed. Histochemistry of enzymes revealed that just after hatching, alkaline and acid phosphatase, ATP -ase and non-specific esterase activities were detected in the yolk sac. From the onset of exogenous feeding to the juvenile stage (30 days post-hatch), an enhancement of enzymatic activities was observed, as alkaline and acid phosphatase, ATP -ase, aminopeptidase M and nonspecific esterase sharply increased. However, lipase activity decreased in the liver and brush border of enterocytes by 13–14 days post-hatch. Two types of lipase were detected in the alimentary canal, a non-pancreatic lipase that was secreted in the cardiac stomach by gastric glands, and a pancreatic lipase, which activity was mainly detected in the brush border of the intestinal epithelium.     

Properties of larval and imaginal membrane-bound digestive enzymes from Trichosia pubescens

Trichosia pubescens larval midgut ceca cells display in their plasma membranes α-glucosidases (M_r 95,000; pH_o 5.5; K_m 5.7 mM; K_i for TRIS 8.9 mM), trehalases (M_r 69,000; pH_o 5.3; K_m 0.92 mM; K_i for TRIS 57 mM), and aminopeptidases (M_r 95,000; pH_o 8.7; K_m 0.19 mM) which are solubilized by Triton X-100. The enzymes were purified by electrophoresis and used to raise antibodies in a rabbit. T. pubescens imaginal midgut cells display in their plasma membranes an α-glucosidase (M_r 156,000; pH_o 5.8; K_m 2.3 mM; K_i for TRIS 0.2 mM), a trehalase (M_r 93,000; pH_o 5.5; K_m 0.72 mM; K_i for TRIS 45.5 mM), and an aminopeptidase (M_r 210,000; pH_o 9.0; K_m 0.47 mM). Antiserum produced against the larval enzymes shows no precipitation arc when tested by double immunodiffusion or by immunoelectrophoresis with Triton X-100-solubilized membrane proteins from imaginal midguts. Otherwise, a similar test showed that larval midgut cecal enzymes and larval ventriculus enzymes display complete immunological identity. The data suggest that, despite the fact the larval and imaginal aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, and trehalase probably have similar functions, the genes coding for them in larvae and imagoes must differ.     

Histological and morphological evaluations of the digestive tract and associated organs of haddock throughout post-hatching ontogeny

At hatching, the oesophagus of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus lacks goblet cells, the intestine is a simple undifferentiated tube, the liver is present as a rounded mass caudal to the heart, and numerous zymogen granules are present in the pancreas. The first intestinal convolution appears at day 2, at the posterior end of the digestive tract. The oesophagus displays alcian blue and PAS positive mucus secreting cells on day 12, which become numerous by day 15. By day 18, epithelial cells of the posterior intestine show evidence of protein absorption in the form of supranuclear vacuoles. The swimbladder inflates in 50% of the larvae by day 22, although inflation rate is highly variable. By day 35, or 10 mm, a pyloric caecal ridge appears which separates the presumptive stomach, which is now showing evidence of gastric gland formation, from the intestine. This marks the beginning of digestive features characteristic of the juvenile stage.     

枣花病对意大利蜜蜂消化酶和解毒酶系活性的影响

[目的]枣花期蜜蜂易发生枣花中毒(又称枣花病),致使大量采集蜂死亡.本研究初步探讨了枣花病对蜜蜂的毒性作用机理.[方法]以正常的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica工蜂为对照,采用分光光度法测定山西临猗、太谷和临县患枣花病的意大利蜜蜂工蜂体内淀粉酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶、果胶酶、海藻糖酶、酯酶(este...     

西花蓟马消化酶对食物短期适应的生化机制

为明确西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis消化酶对食物适应的生化机制,用玫瑰花瓣、玫瑰花朵（含花粉花蜜）和10%蜂蜜水+菜豆豆荚3种食物分别饲养西花蓟马雌成虫,测定西花蓟马在取食1、3、6、9、12、24和48 h后其雌成虫体内α-淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和胰凝乳蛋白酶活性的变化。结果表明,取食玫瑰花朵的西花蓟马体内α-淀粉酶和胰蛋白酶活性最高,大多数时间下取食玫瑰花瓣的最低。随取食时间延长,除取食玫瑰花瓣的西花蓟马虫体α-淀粉酶是先降低后升高外,取食另外2种食物的α-淀粉酶和胰蛋白酶活性均是先升高后降低。西花蓟马体内胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性在3~6 h时取食玫瑰花朵的活性最低,在其余时间下酶活性的变化在3种食物间没有明显的规律。结果说明,西花蓟马可通过快速调节体内消化酶活性来适应不同食物的变化,达到自身生长发育对营养物质的需求。     

Distribution and localization of the digestive laminarinases in animals

The presence of laminarinases in the digestive system of a number of invertebrate and vertebrate species has been investigated. The enzymes were detected in coelenterates, annelids, sipunculids, bryozoans, molluscs, arthropods (crustaceans and insects), echinoderms, tunicates and fishes. Since it could be demonstrated that, in fishes, at least, laminarinases are secreted by the intestinal mucosa rather than by associated gut bacteria, an attempt was made to correlate the distribution of these digestive enzymes with the feeding habits of the animals. The correlation is particularly evident among fishes where in the genus Leuciscus carnivores lack laminarinases in contrast to omnivores. From an evolutionary point of view, we can postulate that the possession of laminarinases is ancient in Metazoa and has been either kept or lost by more evolved taxa depending on their feeding specialization, as has already been demonstrated for chitinases and cellulases.     

幼虫密度对草地螟食物利用率及消化酶活性的影响

为了阐明草地螟Loxostege sticticalis大发生种群幼虫取食行为特征, 在室内条件下（温度22±1℃, 相对湿度70%）对不同幼虫密度［1, 10, 30头/瓶（650 mL）］饲养草地螟幼虫的食物利用率及消化酶活性进行了研究。结果表明： 幼虫中等（或高）密度对草地螟幼虫相对中肠重量、 相对取食量、 粪便干重、 食物利用率和近似消化率及总蛋白酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性影响显著。幼虫相对中肠重量以10头/瓶的幼虫密度最大, 1头/瓶的幼虫密度最小。随着幼虫密度的增加, 幼虫相对取食量和粪便干重增加, 而虫体干重减轻, 幼虫食物利用率降低。幼虫密度30头/瓶的幼虫相对取食量和粪便干重显著高于1和10头/瓶的, 而30头/瓶的幼虫食物利用率显著低于1头/瓶的。幼虫近似消化率随幼虫密度的逐渐增加而显著降低。幼虫密度10头/瓶的幼虫总蛋白酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶的活性显著高于1和30头/瓶的, 而淀粉酶的活性受幼虫密度影响不显著。随幼虫密度的增加, 幼虫相对中肠重量与总蛋白酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性变化趋势较为一致, 消化酶活性的变化可能与相对中肠重量大小有关。因此, 幼虫密度是影响草地螟幼虫取食行为的重要因子, 这些结果为阐明草地螟大发生种群与一般种群的为害特征提供了重要理论依据。     

北草蜥几种消化酶活力比较

应用酶学分析法测定了越冬后北草蜥胃、肠组织中蛋白酶、淀粉酶、纤维素酶的活力。结果表明 ,不同年龄、性别的北草蜥同一组织中消化酶活力有显著差异 ;不同地理种群的北草蜥同一组织中消化酶活力有显著差异 ;不同消化酶在北草蜥同一组织中的活力有显著差异 ;在北草蜥不同的组织中同一消化酶的活力有显著差异。说明北草蜥消化酶的活力与年龄、性别、部位和地理环境等因素有关 ,受食物组成、能量需求和遗传等因素的影响 ,产生了不同的酶活力和分布。这也说明生物长期适应环境 ,形成了不同的代谢水平     

Embryonic and larval staging of summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)

Early development of flatfishes such as the summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus (Pleuronectiformes) has not been extensively documented, largely because of a dearth of material; however, the recent expansion of flatfish aquaculture has made embryos of P. dentatus readily available for developmental studies. We divide development of P. dentatus embryos and larvae into two main periods, pre- and posthatching, and assign stages within each of those primary divisions. Stages from fertilization to hatching loosely follow the general teleost staging scheme suggested by Shardo ([1995] J Morphol 225:125-167); stages from hatching through metamorphosis are aligned with the series used for Japanese flounder, P. olivaceus (Minami [1982] Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 48:1581-1588; Fukuhara [1986] Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 52:81-91). Although length, width, and age may serve as approximate indicators of developmental progression in summer flounder, these characteristics are too variable to form the sole basis of a staging table. Therefore, we define stages by morphological criteria drawn from the development of the jaw apparatus and digestive system, eye migration, and notochord tip flexion. Examination of these morphological features in hatched larvae allows accurate and consistent assessment of developmental stage despite variation in timing and size. The staging scheme for flounder embryonic and larval development presented here should facilitate both experimental and comparative research on summer flounder and other flatfish species.     

Stock and parental effects on embryonic and early larval development of winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum)

A hierarchical breeding design was used to determine if winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus embryos and yolk-sac larvae sired by Georges Bank males developed and grew larger than fish sired by Passamaquoddy Bay males, and to examine parental contributions to variations in fertilization success, time to 50% hatch, hatch success and larval morphological development. Significant stock effects were detected for time to hatch and larval development. Eggs fertilized by Passamaquoddy Bay males reached 50% hatch significantly earlier than eggs fertilized by Georges Bank males. Larvae sired by Georges Bank males were significantly larger during larval development for four of the six traits measured at 12 days post-hatch: head depth, jaw length, myotome height and body area. Embryo and larval development were strongly influenced by maternal contributions; there were significant maternal variance components for the majority of the variables measured. Paternal variance components were significant for fertilization success, time to hatch, larval jaw length and larval head depth, however, they acted principally through parental interactions. This information has important implications for the long-term sustainable development of winter flounder for aquaculture purposes as well as for understanding winter flounder genetic variation in the wild.     

Comparative study of digestive enzymes of squid (Todarodes pacificus) viscera after supercritical carbon dioxide and organic solvent extraction

Three major classes of digestive enzymes of squid viscera were characterized following extraction of oil by supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO₂) and organic solvent, n-hexane. Squid viscera were extracted at temperature, 35∼45°C and pressure, 15∼25 MPa for 2.5 h by SCO₂ with a constant flow rate of 22 g/min. Oil extraction yield increased with the increasing of extraction pressure and temperature. The highest oil extracted residues of squid viscera were used for characterization of digestive enzymes. The activities of protease, lipase, and amylase were highest in n-hexane treated squid viscera samples and lowest in SCO₂ treated samples. The crude extracts of SCO₂ and n-hexane treated squid viscera samples showed almost same optimum pH and pH stability for each of the digestive enzymes. The optimum temperature of protease, lipase, and amylase were found to almost similar in SCO₂ and n-hexane treated samples. But the thermal stability for each digestive enzyme in SCO₂ treated squid viscera were slightly higher than that of n-hexane treated squid viscera. Studies using SDS-PAGE showed no significant differences in protein patterns of the crude extracts of untreated and SCO₂ and n-hexane treated squid viscera indicating no denaturation of proteins.     

The genetic stock structure of larval and juvenile winter flounder larvae in Connecticut waters of eastern Long Island Sound and estimations of larval entrainment

Variability at six microsatellite loci was examined among 536 winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus larvae collected from three locations in eastern Long Island Sound shown to be nursery areas for the species. Substantial genetic differences were seen among the putative source populations and thus appeared to be geographically based. These differences were used to characterize the most likely sources of winter flounder larvae entrained at the Millstone Power Station as well as recruitment to juvenile winter flounder collected in the Niantic River. Samples were classified to the most likely geographical source population both by a conditional maximum likelihood method and by a multi‐layer feed‐forward neural net trained on the differences in microsatellite allele frequencies. The classification of samples by both methods is compared and discussed in the context of winter flounder management.     

中华真地鳖中肠主要消化酶的活性研究

以中华真地鳖EupolyphagasinensisWalker为研究材料,测定人工饲养和野生地鳖虫在不同生长阶段消化酶的活性以及温度及pH对人工饲养地鳖虫中肠消化酶活性的影响。结果表明,在地鳖虫生长发育过程中,蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性随发育而逐渐增强,淀粉酶活性却随发育而逐渐减弱。在低龄若虫、高龄若虫和成虫阶段,人工饲养地鳖虫蛋白酶活力比野生地鳖虫低,人工饲养地鳖虫淀粉酶和脂肪酶活力比野生地鳖虫高;在30～60℃的范围内,人工饲养地鳖虫蛋白酶、淀粉酶的适宜温度范围为40～50℃,脂肪酶的适宜温度范围为35～45℃;蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶的适宜pH范围分别为6.5～7.5,5.6～6.4和7.5～8.5。