Leucine aminopeptidase activity in the digestive tract of perch, Perca fluviatilis L.

The distribution of the enzyme leucine aminopeptidase (LAP, EC 3.4.1.1) in the digestive tract of perch, Perca fluviatilis L., was investigated histochemically. The enzyme was present in the mucosa of the entire intestine and was absent in the oesophagus, stomach and pyloric sphincter. In the intestine, the enzyme was localized in the supranuclear cytoplasm of the columnar cells and was strongest in the brush border area. Enzyme activity was also present in the lumen of the intestine. The activity of the enzyme in the intestine decreased slightly towards the rectum. In perch, the final digestion of peptides and aminopeptides is both extracellular and intracellular and takes place along the entire length of the intestine.     

银鲳消化道形态与组织学结构特征及其消化酶活性

为了解银鲳(Pampus argenteus)消化道结构特点与其功能及食性的相关性, 采用解剖、石蜡切片、AB-PAS染色及酶活性检测技术对银鲳消化道的形态、组织结构、黏液细胞分布及消化酶活性进行研究。结果显示, 银鲳的消化道由口咽腔(舌)、食道侧囊、食道、胃及肠构成, 胃肠交界处有很多幽门盲囊。食道侧囊呈椭球形, 食道粗短, 胃呈U型, 肠有多个盘曲, 肠指数为2.03。舌上皮内有少量味蕾及较多黏液细胞。食道侧囊、食道、胃及肠均由黏膜层、黏膜下层、肌层及浆膜组成。食道侧囊内皱襞较发达, 被覆复层扁平上皮, 内含较多黏液细胞, 且以Ⅳ型为主, 皱襞顶端及侧面有内含角质刺的次级突起; 黏膜下层及肌层中有固定皱襞的骨质脚根; 侧囊内胃蛋白酶活性较高。食道内皱襞较高, 被覆复层扁平上皮, 内含较多黏液细胞, 且以Ⅳ型为主。胃内皱襞发达, 被覆单层柱状上皮, 未见黏液细胞分布; 胃腺发达, 胃内蛋白酶活性较高。肠道内褶襞多, 高度呈先下降后上升趋势, 黏液细胞密度前、中肠较高, 后肠较低, 且均以Ⅰ型为主; 肠道内胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶、淀粉酶及碱性磷酸酶活性较高。幽门盲囊组织结构与肠相似。银鲳的消化道结构特点、黏液细胞分布及消化酶活性与其功能及偏肉食的杂食性相适应。     

Microanatomy of the digestive tract and accessory organs of the Japanese flathead (Inegocia japonica Cuvier, 1829) (Scorpaeniformes,Platycephalidae)

The Japanese flathead, Inegocia japonica Cuvier, 1829 is a commercially important fish in small-scale coastal fisheries in Thailand; however, an explanation of its digestive biology is missing. This study describes the digestive tract and accessory organs of I. japonica, using morphological and histological methods. The fish (10 individual fish, 24.5 ± 0.98 cm in total length) were obtained from Libong Island, Thailand. Integrated morphological and histological data showed that the digestive tract was composed of oesophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca and intestine, with accessory organs. All digestive tracts consisted of four layers, including mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. Two stomach regions were identified (cardiac and pyloric stomachs). Several clusters of gastric glands were identified in the cardiac stomach. Each gland was a unicellular structure. The apical surface of this gland contained the vacuolar cell. The intestine was lined with a simple columnar structure with goblet cells that was similar to pyloric caecum. Goblet cells were rare in the anterior intestine, in contrast to the posterior intestine where goblet cells were abundant. The numerous of hepatocyte was mostly observed in the liver, whereas an exocrine acinar cell of pancreas was also identified. The results of our observations provided the first information of the digestive tract of I. japonica and can be applied to advanced study, such as physiology and histopathology.     

鳜鱼消化道黏液细胞和6种酶的组织化学定位

采用阿利新蓝-过碘酸雪夫氏(AB-PAS)染色和酶组织化学方法对鳜鱼消化道各部位黏液细胞和6种酶的分布与定位进行了研究。结果显示,黏液细胞可为分为4种类型,食道黏液细胞多数为Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型,未见Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型;胃贲门和胃幽门黏膜上皮仅有Ⅰ型黏液细胞;胃体黏膜上皮则以Ⅲ型细胞为主;幽门盲囊中主要为Ⅱ型细胞;前肠和中肠中Ⅳ型黏液细胞最多,Ⅰ型最少;后肠黏液细胞则以Ⅳ型和Ⅱ型为主。酸性磷酸酶(ACP)主要分布于幽门盲囊和前肠的黏膜上皮;碱性磷酸酶(ALP)主要分布于食道、幽门盲囊和整个肠道黏膜上皮;非特异性酯酶(NSE)主要分布于胃幽门、中肠和后肠黏膜上皮;过氧化物酶(POX)在胃幽门黏膜上皮中活性较高;琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)主要分布于胃腺中;腺苷三磷酸酶(ATPase)在消化道各部位均有较多分布。鳜鱼消化道黏液细胞和酶的分布型与其它动物有相似之处,也有其一定的特异性,与消化道不同部位的消化吸收机能相适应。     

野生与养殖黄鳍鲷消化道形态组织结构

采用常规石蜡组织切片的方法对野生和养殖黄鳍鲷(Sparus latus)消化道的形态组织结构进行了比较观察。结果表明,野生和养殖黄鳍鲷的消化道存在一定差异。(1)形态学研究表明,食道粗而短,胃呈V形,分为贲门部、胃体部和幽门部,胃与肠的连接处有4条幽门盲囊,肠道在体腔内迂回两个回折。野生黄鳍鲷牙齿更为坚硬锋利,体腔中脂肪较少,消化道更为粗短。野生和养殖黄鳍鲷的肠道系数分别为0.71±0.03和0.94±0.12。(2)组织学研究表明,食道黏膜上皮由扁平细胞层和杯状细胞层组成,杯状细胞发达。胃黏膜由单层柱状上皮组成,无杯状细胞,贲门部和胃体部胃腺发达。幽门盲囊组织学特征与肠相似,上皮为柱状上皮,其中的杯状细胞少于肠。肠中,前肠杯状细胞最多,中肠次之,后肠最少。直肠杯状细胞多于肠。野生与养殖黄鳍鲷组织学的区别在于,消化道相同部位养殖鱼的杯状细胞多于野生鱼,野生鱼的肌层厚度大于养殖鱼。黄鳍鲷消化道的形态组织结构与其生活环境和食物是相关的。     

Evolution de quelques Enzymes Digestives chez le Jeune Mugil capito à Diverses Etapes de sa Croissance

Modifications in the digestive enzymic profile in three parts of the digestive tract (stomach, pyloric caecum and intestine) were studied during the first year of life of the teleost Mugil capito by the semi-quantitative APIZYM method. Higher enzymic activity was found int he pyloric caecum and intestine than in the stomach. Moreover, a decrease in protease activities appears during growth and is apparently due to adaptation to changes in diet.     

Morphology and histochemical analysis of glycoproteins in the digestive tract of Dabry's sturgeon

The aim of this study is to explore the morphology and histochemistry of the digestive tract of Acipenser dabryanus (Duméril, 1869). The digestive system of the Dabry's sturgeon contained an oropharyngeal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca, duodenum, valvula intestine, and rectum. Both the pyloric caeca, and the valvula intestine, which belonged to elasmobranch, were present simultaneously in the digestive system of the Dabry's sturgeon, which indicated that it was an archaic species. According to the results, we found four types of mucous cells exist in the digestive tracts of the Dabry's sturgeon. The statistical results showed that there were various types and densities of mucous cells in different parts. In comparison, large quantities of mucous cells existed in intestines. The difference in type and distribution of mucous cells are closely related to the functions of the organs where they are found; 5‐hydroxytryptamine were used to identify the endocrine cells in the digestive tract of the Dabry's sturgeon.The 5‐hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive cells were distributed throughout the digestive tract except the esophagus.     

Epithelium-associated bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.). An electron microscopical study

AIMS: The primary aim was to use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to define the location of epithelium-associated bacteria in the digestive tract of the salmonid fish, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). METHODS AND RESULTS: TEM and SEM examination of the gastrointestinal tract demonstrated substantial numbers of ovoid and rod-shaped bacterial cells associated with the microvillous brush borders of enterocytes. Bacteria were found at the tips of microvilli as well as between adjacent microvilli. Endocytosis of bacteria by epithelial cells was observed in two regions (pyloric caeca and midgut). CONCLUSION: Electron microscope examination of the gut is an important tool for evaluating the microbial ecology of the fish digestive tract ecosystem. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results of the current study clearly demonstrate that the intestine is involved in bacterial endocytosis.     

Structure of the digestive tract of tornaria larva inEnteropneusta (Hemichordata)

The ultrastructure of the digestive tract of tornaria larva of enteropneusts was investigated. It showed that the digestive tract consists of three parts: esophagus, stomach, and intestine. The esophagus epithelium consists of two types of multiciliated epithelial cells and solitary muscle cells. Axonal tracts and neurons were found in the ventral wall of the esophagus. The cardiac sphincter contains an anterior band of strongly ciliated cells and a posterior band of cells with long vacuolized processes which partition the sphincter lumen. The stomach consists of three cell types: (1) cells with electron-opaque cytoplasm, bearing a fringed border on their apical sides; (2, 3) sparse cells with electron-light cytoplasm and different patterns of apical microvilli. Cells of the pyloric sphincter bear numerous cilia and almost no microvilli. The intestine consists of three parts. The anterior part is formed of multiciliated cells which bear the fringed border. The middle part consists of flattened cells bearing rare cilia and vast numbers of mace-like microvilli. The posterior part of the intestine is formed of cells bearing numerous cilia and few microvilli. Muscle cells were not found in either stomach or intestine epithelium. One noticed that the structure of the digestive tract of enteropneust tornaria larva differs from that of echinoid pluteus larva.     

A study of the anatomy, histology and ultrastructure of the digestive tract of Orthrias angorae Steindachner, 1897

The anatomy, histology and ultrastructure of the digestive tract of Orthrias angorae (Steindachner, 1897) were investigated using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The histological structure consists of four layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. The esophageal mucosa consists of undifferentiated basal epithelial cells, mucous cells and surface epithelial cells. It was observed that the J-shaped stomach had a meshwork of folds in the cardiac region, and longitudinal folds in the fundic and pyloric regions. A single layer of columnar cells, PAS positive only in their apical portions, forms the epithelium. The convoluted tube-shape intestine is lined by simple columnar epithelial cells, which have microvilli at the apical surface. The wall of the esophagus and stomach are thicker than that of the intestine because of the thick muscle layer. There were numerous goblet cells in the intestine. There were numerous gastric glands in the submucosa layer ofthe cardiac stomach, but none were present in the pyloric region of the stomach. There were no pyloric caeca between the stomach and intestine. The enterocytes with microvilli contained rough endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes and rounded bodies, and the gastric cells contained a well-developed Golgi apparatus.     

Chitinase activity in the digestive tract of the cod, Gadus morhua (L.)

The study was made to determine if enzymatic degradation of chitin occurs in the digestive tract of the cod, Gadus morhua . The method employed corresponds to the end product measurement of Jeuniaux (1966), using 'native' chitin as the substrate. The following results were obtained.

• (1) 

  Chitinolytic enzyme of high activity is present in enzyme solutions from the stomach contents, gastric mucosa and intestinal contents.
• (2) 

  Lower chitinase activities are found in samples of the intestinal mucosa and the pyloric caeca.
• (3) 

  The optimum pH ranges for the action of the enzymes in the stomach and the intestine differ: 4.5–5.1 and 5.1–6.5, respectively.
• (4) 

  The role of chitin-decomposing bacteria is discussed, based on bacterial numbers and pH conditions in the digestive tract. The existence of two different enzyme systems is indicated.

     

大鳞副泥鳅肠道黏液细胞及消化酶活性分布特征研究

采用阿利新兰-碘酸雪夫氏反应(AB-PAS)染色法及酶学方法研究了大鳞副泥鳅成熟个体肠道各段黏液细胞分布及消化酶活性。结果表明, 大鳞副泥鳅肠道黏液细胞分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ 4种类型。前肠至后肠, 黏液细胞数量逐渐减少。前肠主要分布Ⅲ和Ⅳ混合型黏液细胞, 后肠则以Ⅱ和Ⅳ型酸性黏液细胞为主。肠道胰蛋白酶活性显著高于淀粉酶和脂肪酶。且后肠消化酶活性显著低于前肠和中肠。根据黏液细胞及消化酶活性分布特点, 表明大鳞副泥鳅属于杂食性鱼类, 前肠为其主要的消化吸收场所, 后肠中性黏液细胞的数量较少以及消化酶活性较低, 表明其对食物的消化吸收功能较弱, 与其为辅助呼吸功能的特点相关。     

石磺消化系统的组织学观察

对石磺消化系统各部分结构进行组织学观察.石磺的消化系统由消化道和消化腺两部分组成.消化道包括口、食道、贲门胃、幽门胃、中肠和后肠,不具吻;消化腺包括肝胰腺、唾液腺和肛门腺.在光学显微镜下,消化道由粘膜层、粘膜下层、肌层和外膜4层组成;肌层主要为环肌,粘膜层主要为柱状细胞.肝胰腺甚为发达,组织结构显示肝胰腺由很多分支的腺管组成,腺管由腺细胞、分泌细胞等组成.唾液腺和肛门腺发达.     

刀鲚幼鱼消化系统的组织形态学结构

采用光镜和扫描电镜观察长江刀鲚(Coilia nasus)幼鱼消化系统组织形态学结构。结果显示,刀鲚体长,口裂大,含有犬齿状的颌齿和尖锥状的腭齿,具有5对鳃弓,鳃耙长度明显大于鳃丝且表面附着不规则绒毛状细齿;胃呈"Y"型,胃与肠连接处具有16～21个指状环形幽门盲囊;肠为直肠,较短,比肠长为0.241±0.080;肝分为两叶,胰为独立的器官。刀鲚口咽腔为复层鳞状上皮,含有腺体、大量椭圆形黏液细胞、少量杯状细胞及味蕾;胃黏膜都为典型的单层柱状上皮,含有较多由上皮凹陷形成的胃小凹和胃腺;幽门盲囊具有20～25个丰富的褶皱,占满大部分幽门盲囊腔,黏膜层具有微绒毛;中肠黏膜上皮最发达,形成的褶皱细长且连接成网状,单层柱状上皮与复层扁平上皮交替分布。观察结果表明,刀鲚消化系统具有典型肉食性鱼类特征。     

Activity of digestive enzymes and distribution of the trematode Bunodera luciopercae (Müller) in the intestine of juvenile perch infected with plerocercoids of Triaenophorus nodulosus (Pallas)

It is revealed that the infection of Triaenophorus nodulosus (Pallas) with plerocercoids affects both the activity of digestive hydrolases and the localization of trematodes in the intestine of juvenile perch. Infected fish exhibit a higher proportion of Bunodera luciopercae (Müller) marites in the posterior intestinal segment compared to noninfected specimens. Moreover, in young fish with cestode-induced liver damage, the activities of digestive hydrolases decreases, particularly in the anterior segment of the digestive tract.     

Phenotypic flexibility of digestive system in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

This study examined the restoration of the digestive capacity of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua Linnaeus) following a long period of food deprivation. Fifty cod (48 cm, 1 kg) were food-deprived for 68 days and then fed in excess with capelin (Mallotus villosus Müller) on alternate days. Ten fish were sampled after 0, 2, 6, 14 and 28 days and the mass of the pyloric caeca, intestine and carcass determined. Two metabolic enzymes (cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase) were assayed in white muscle, pyloric caeca and intestine, and trypsin activity was measured in the pyloric caeca. A delay of 14 days was required before body mass started to increase markedly, whereas most of the increase in mass of both the pyloric caeca and intestine relative to fish length occurred earlier in the experiment. By day 14, the activities of trypsin and citrate synthase in the pyloric caeca as well as citrate synthase in the intestine had reached maxima. The growth of the digestive tissues and restoration of their metabolic capacities thus occur early upon refeeding and are likely required for recovery growth to take place. The phenotypic flexibility of the cod digestive system is therefore remarkable: increases in trypsin activity and size of pyloric caeca resulted in a combined 29-fold increase in digestive capacity of the fish during the refeeding period. Our study suggests that Atlantic cod are able to cope with marked fluctuations in food availability in their environment by making a rapid adjustment of their digestive capacity as soon as food availability increases.     

Morphology of the digestive system in carnivorous freshwater dourado Salminus brasiliensis

The digestive system of teleost shows remarkable functional and morphological diversity. In this study, the digestive tract and accessory organs of dourado Salminus brasiliensis are characterized using anatomical, histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. The existence of taste buds bordered by microridges in the oesophagus of dourado was recorded for the first time, thus showing that the species drives food intake by either swallowing or rejecting the food item. The Y-shaped stomach of dourado consisted of cardiac, cecal and pyloric regions with tubular gastric glands registered solely in the cardiac and cecal segments. The intestine is a short N-shaped tube with two loops, an intestinal coefficient of 0.73. The structure of pyloric caeca is similar to that of the intestine wall, comprising tunica mucosa, tela submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa layers. Histochemical analyses revealed an increased incidence of goblet cells from the midgut to the hindgut segment. A well-developed enteric plexus of scattered nerve cell and fibres are found along the digestive tract, and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive neurons and fibres were identified in the myenteric plexus from the oesophagus to the hindgut. The exocrine pancreas appears diffuse in the mesentery around the stomach, intestine and also reaches the liver, and the endocrine pancreas is organized as a few islets of Langerhans. The liver comprises three distinct, asymmetric lobes, and the portal triad arrangement was registered in this tissue.     

Immunohistochemical localization of glucagon, substance-P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in gastrointestinal tract mucosa of zander

The distribution of specific immunoreactivities in the digestive tract of zander Stizostedion lucioperca , using antisera against substance P (sub P), glucagon and vasocative intestinal peptide (VIP), indicated immunoreactivities against all antisera in the glandular cells. The immunoreactivity was less by comparison in the cells of the lamina epithelialis. The most dense regions of immunoreactive cells were the fundus and pylorus of the stomach, the anterior intestine and the pyloric caeca. Immunoreactivity was determined in the nerves belonging to the myenteric plexus and muscle tissue.     

Peroxidase activity in the epithelium of the digestive tract of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Peroxidase activity was examined cytochemically in the mucosal epithelium along the length of the digestive tract from the esophagus through the large intestine during the development of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. In the tadpole of this species, cells with peroxidase activity were found abundantly in the esophagus, stomach, and large intestine; and the types of such cells differed according to the region: ciliated cells and mucous cells in the esophagus; ciliated cells in the stomach; and brush cells, absorptive cells, and goblet cells in the large intestine, respectively. After metamorphosis, however, peroxidase activity was observed exclusively in absorptive cells and goblet cells in the large intestine. Peroxidase activity was commonly demonstrated in apical vesicles or granules, to some degree in rough endoplasmic reticulum, and in some elements of the Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, reaction product was also found in mucus covering the luminal surface of such epithelial cells. These findings indicate that peroxidase-positive cells, which may have the ability to synthesize peroxidase as a secretory product, were distributed mainly in three regions of the digestive tract in tadpoles (esophagus, stomach, and large intestine), but were centered in one specific region, the large intestine, after metamorphosis. Concomitantly, the variety of types of peroxidase-positive cells decreased during metamorphosis. Our results indicate that some of the peroxidase in the digestive tract may have a secretory origin and may play a role in the defense against microorganisms.