The digestive tract of the amberjack Seriola dumerili, Risso: a light and scanning electron microscope study

The histology of the digestive tract of the amberjack ( Seriola dumerili , Risso) was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The anterior oesophagus mucosa displays primary and secondary folds lined with a stratified squamous epithelium with fingerprint-like microridges which is substituted, on the top of the oesogaster folds, by a simple columnar epithelium with short microvilli. Only primary folds are present in the stomach. The anterior portion is rich in simple tubular glands, whereas the oesogaster and the pyloric region are devoid of them. Pyloric caeca and anterior and middle intestine mucosa display the same pattern of folding. The dominant cell type is the enterocyte, which exhibits larger and thinner microvilli in the caeca than in the intestine. The columnar epithelium of the rectum is replaced, in the anal sphincter, by a stratified flattened epithelium. Goblet cells are numerous throughout the whole length of the tract with the exception of the initial part of the oesophagus, the oesogaster, the stomach and the anal sphincter. Mucosubstances have been shown to vary in the different regions of the gut: acid mucines are found in the oesophagus, pyloric stomach, caeca, intestine and rectum, whereas neutral mucosubstances dominate in the anterior portion of the stomach. The muscularis is well developed throughout the length of the tract: two layers of striated muscle at the oesophageal level; two layers of smooth muscle in the stomach wall and three at the intestinal level.     

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.     

Morphological characterisation of the digestive tract of the catfish Lophiosilurus alexandri Steindachner, 1876 (Siluriformes,Pseudopimelodidae)

The anatomical arrangement of the digestive tract and the length (cm) of the oesophagus and intestine of the catfish Lophiosilurus alexandri were described, and the intestinal coefficient was determined. L. alexandri oesophagus is short, in median position, and presents longitudinally folded mucosa, whilst its epithelium is stratified and non-keratinised, with mucous, claviform and epithelial cells. Stomach has “C” shape, with folded mucosa along cardiac region, disordered in the fundic region, and directed to the sphincter in the pyloric region. Its epithelium is simple prismatic, and cardiac and fundic portions have gastric glands. Cranial intestine is formed by pyloric flexure and descending loop attached to the right side of stomach. Middle intestine is winding and positioned to the right of caudal portion of stomach. Caudal intestine is linear and with a median position up to the anus. Intestinal coefficient was 1.39 ± 0.30 cm. Epithelium is simple prismatic with brush border and contains epithelial and goblet cells. Caudal region has highest concentration of goblet cells. Were detected neutral glycoproteins, carboxylated and sulphated acid glycoconjugates for mucous cells and goblet cells, and neutral glycoproteins for the apical region of gastric epithelial cells. Morphological features could be related to piscivorous species feeding habit.     

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.     

A comparative study of chitinase activity in digestive tract of Serranus cabrilla and Serranus scriba

Chitinolytic activity was searched for in oesophagus, stomach, intestine, pyloric caeca and liver of two sympatric closely related species of Serranidae (Teleostei, Perciformes): Serranus cabrilla (L.) and Serranus scriba (L.) living near the rocky shore of Calvi (Corsica, Mediterranean Sea). The chitinase activity was much higher in stomach than in other parts of the digestive tract and liver in both species. In extracts of gastric mucosa, the chitinase activity was more important in S. cabrilla than in S. scriba; an appointed situation was found in the extracts of intestine and pyloric caeca. These findings are discussed as aspects of the ability of these species to share very near ecological niches.     

The microscopic anatomy of the oesophagus, stomach and intestine of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

An anatomical study of the digestive tract of the channel catfish revealed that the oesophageal mucosa was longitudinally folded and that secondary folds were occasionally located on the primary longitudinal folds. The infoldings were more numerous near the stomach. The stratified squamous epithelium covering the folds was made up of a basal layer, large mucous cells and simple squamous cells on the surface. The epithelium on the side of the folds consisted primarily of mucous secreting cells. Taste buds were observed between mucous cells on the apical portion of the oesophageal folds and were more prevalent in the cranial part of the oesophagus. The remaining layers of the oesophagus were: a lamina propria-submucosa, tunica muscularis and adventitia or serosa.
The J-shaped stomach had two regions: a large sac-shaped region containing gastric glands and a smaller, nonglandular pyloric region. The large rugae of the stomach became gradually smaller near the pylorus. There was a well developed pyloric sphincter. The mucosa included a simple columnar epithelium, a lamina propria and adventitia or serosa.
The intestine could be differentiated into a thick ascending segment, a descending segment, a thin convoluted segment and a thicker terminal segment, the rectum. Many mucosal folds containing branched villi characterized the ascending segment of the intestine. The descending and convoluted segments contained fewer folds with shorter and less-branching villi and were smaller in diameter and thinner walled. Descending and convoluted segments were also mildly convoluted and accounted for 80% of the total length of the intestine. An intestinal valve with a sphincter marked the beginning of the rectum. There was an approximately four-fold increase in the thickness of the tunica muscularis of the terminal segment of the intestine.     

Carbohydrases in the digestive tract of the African bony-tongue Heterotis niloticus (Pisces: Osteoglossidae)

The presence of amylase and maltase in the stomach, intestine and pyloric caeca of Heterotis niloticus is demonstrated. Amylase activity was highest in the fore-gut, followed by the pyloric caeca, while the lowest activity was in the hind-gut. Optimum pH for intestinal amylase was 8.45. Sucrase, lactase and cellulase were not detected.     

A study of morphology and histology of the alimentary tract of Glyptosternum maculatum (Sisoridae,Siluriformes)

Xiong, D., Zhang, L., Yu, H., Xie, C., Kong, Y., Zeng, Y., Huo, B. and Liu, Z. 2011. A study of morphology and histology of the alimentary tract of Glyptosternum maculatum (Sisoridae, Siluriformes). —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92 : 161–169. The structure of alimentary tract has been studied in a cold water fish Glyptosternum maculatum, an endemic teleost species of notable economic importance and with high potential for controlled rearing of the species in Tibet, by light and electron microscope. Glyptosternum maculatum has short oesophagus, large caecal‐type stomach and short intestine, and the digestive tract with four layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. Taste buds were found in the epithelium of lips, buccopharynx and oesophagus. The stratified epithelium of buccopharynx and oesophagus was located with numerous goblet cells. The U‐shaped stomach has three parts, corresponding to mammalian cardiac, fundus and pyloric portion, lined with a single‐layered columnar epithelium, and tubular gastric glands are present in cardiac and fundic portion, but absent in pyloric portion. No pyloric caeca was detected. The intestine is separated from the stomach by a loop valve. The intestine epithelium is composed of simple columnar cells with a distinct microvillus brush border and many goblet cells. Meanwhile, the intestinal coefficient was 0.898. At the ultrastuctural level, three type cells (mucous, glandular and endocrine cell) were found in the stomach, and glandular cell with a great amount of pepsinogen granules. The enterocytes of the intestinal mucosa display abundant endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and well‐developed microvilli. Congxin Xie, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China. E‐mail: xiecongxin@mail.hzau.edu.cn or dreamsail_2005@yahoo.com.cn     

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.     

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。     

Morphology of the digestive tract of the Whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)

Studies have shown the feeding diversity of teleostean fish, which is conditioned by environmental characteristics or the biology of the different species. Analysis on the morphology of the digestive system (DS) of fish made it possible for researchers to know the food regimen of several species at different stages of life. On the other hand, it is known that food habits may lead to morphological changes in the DS the same way that different food habits may be imposed by morphological limitations of this system. Among the species of greater commercial importance in Brazil, Micropogonias furnieri is highly representative of fish in south‐eastern Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyse the morphology of the DS of M. furnieri. Results on the morphology of the DS observed in this study were similar to the patterns determined for the morphology of teleostean fish. In this study, it was observed that the DS of the Whitemouth croaker is directly related with the shape of the peritoneal cavity; these fish showed oesophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca and intestines. The pyloric caeca showed morphological adaptations in relation to sexual maturation, with well‐developed caeca found in sexually mature animals.     

A histological study on the development of the digestive system of Pseudosciaena crocea larvae and juveniles

The ontogenetic development of the gut and accessory organs in large yellow croaker Pseudosciaena crocea was investigated using light microscopy from hatching up to the juvenile stage (40 days post hatch, dph). At 3 dph (mean ±  s . d ., 4·1 ± 0·1 mm total length, L _T), coinciding with the buccopharynx opening, larvae started to feed exogenously, and the gut consisted of a well‐developed buccopharynx, a partially‐differentiated oesophagus and an intestine divided in three regions (anterior intestine, intermediate intestine and rectum). Yolk reserves were not completely depleted at the onset of exogenous feeding, and a period of mixed nutrition was observed up to 6 dph (4·3 ± 0·1 mm L _T), when yolk was definitively exhausted. Important morphological changes occurred at the end of the larval period, coinciding with metamorphosis. At 17 dph (6·8 ± 0·6 mm L _T), pyloric caeca differentiated at the junction of the pyloric stomach and the anterior intestine. Gastric glands were first observed at 21 dph (9·2 ± 1·2 mm L _T), coinciding with the morphological development of the stomach in three different regions (cardiac, fundic and pyloric) according to the histological characteristics of their mucosa. At this age, large longitudinal folds appeared in the median and posterior oesophageal mucosa. These morphological and histological features suggested the achievement of a digestive system characteristic of large yellow croaker juveniles and adults.     

Histological structure of the digestive tract,liver, and pancreas of Ambassis nalua (Hamilton, 1822) with ultrastructural details of the gastric gland

The scalloped perchlet Ambassis nalua is one of the dominant fishes in the Estuarine Pranburi River, Thailand. It is suggested that this fish is in the secondary trophic level with a carnivorous nature. Studies on digestive system will help us further identify the niche of this species in the food web/food chain. The present study therefore aimed to report the detailed structure and ultrastructure of A. nalua digestive system. Fish samples (n = 30) with a total length of 5.7 ± 0.5 cm were obtained using beach seines from the Estuarine Pranburi River. Their digestive tract length and intestine coeficient were 3.6 ± 0.07 cm and 0.91, respectively. Light microscopic observation showed that the digestive wall comprised four layers, namely mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. The prominent mucous-secreting cells were found in the mucosal oesophagus. The stomach had many gastric folds, with height and width being 649.76 ± 85.15 and 370.30 ± 68.56 μm, respectively. Gastric glands were found in the anterior stomach but not in the posterior stomach. Each gastric gland was made up of a single type of columnar cells. The gastric cells were ultrastructurally characterized by numerous mitochondria and well-developed secretory granules of varying sizes. A few small vacuoles were also identified in the apical area of the gastric cells. The intestine had two regions (anterior and posterior intestines), and pyloric caecum was absent. The density of the goblet cell was significantly higher in the posterior intestine. These results provide basic knowledge of the digestive system of A. nalua, and the low intestine coefficient and the absence of pyloric caecum suggest the carnivorous feeding habit of this species.     

Morphological characteristics of the Pterodoras granulosus digestive tube (Valenciennes, 1821) (Osteichthyes,Doradidae)

Little is known about the digestive tube (DT) morphology of the fish Pterodoras granulosus. Therefore, macro‐, meso‐ and microscopic aspects of 15 P. granulosus DTs were analysed. The muscular layer was composed of striated skeletal muscle in the oesophagus and smooth muscle in the other segments. The epithelium progressed from a stratified pavement in the oesophagus to a simple column in the other segments, with a flat striated border in the intestine. A large number of mucus‐secreting periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS)‐positive cells were observed in the oesophagus. In the stomach, the number of glands in the region decreased towards the cardiac–fundic region, and none were found in the pylorus. The intestine showed an epithelium with absorption cells and an increasing number of PAS‐positive caliciform cells towards the distal region. Tests showed that the oesophagus is adapted for passing and preparing food for the chemical digestion that occurs in the stomach, which also has storage functions without grinding action. The proximal intestinal region was consistent with fat absorption, and the medium region, with the absorption of other nutrients. The distal region was short and consistent with a role in absorption for osmoregulation as well as in the formation, storage and disposal of faeces.     

Surface architecture of the oropharyngeal cavity and the digestive tract of Mulloidichthys flavolineatus from the red sea,Egypt: A scanning electron microscope study

Surface architecture of the buccal cavity and the surface organization of the luminal mucosa of the oesophagus, stomach, and intestine of the carnivorous fish M. flavolineatus from the Red Sea were studied by using SEM. The results revealed that M. flavolineatus has four kinds of teeth; curved-blunt, wedge-shaped, flattened crowns, molariform and papilliform. Three types of taste buds (type I, II and III) were recorded in the oropharyngeal cavity. It was observed that taste buds and teeth are co-located in the pharyngeal region. Characteristic patterns of microridges of the surface cells in the oral cavity and oesophagus were observed. Mucous cells are distributed in the lining of the mouth cavity, oesophagus, stomach, and intestine. Characteristic patterns of mucosal folds throughout the alimentary canal, concerning oesophagus, stomach, and intestine were revealed. Numerous gastric pits, which represents the emergence of the gastric glands, were recorded in the anterior and middle regions of the stomach. Complex patterns of the folds and mucous cells were recorded in the intestinal mucosa. These results were discussed with other teleost fishes.     

Morphological and histochemical characterisation of the mucosa of the digestive tract in matrinxã Brycon amazonicus (Teleostei: Characiformes)

This study describes anatomical, histological and histochemical features of the digestive tract mucosal layer of the matrinxã Brycon amazonicus, an omnivorous freshwater fish endemic from the Amazon basin. This species presents short thick oesophagus with longitudinal folds, that allow the passage of large food items. The mucosa is lined with a stratified secretory epithelium rich in goblet cells that secrete neutral and acid mucins. The two mucin types provide different viscosity in anterior and posterior oesophagus related to the protective and lubricant functions, respectively. The stomach is a highly distensible Y-shaped saccular organ. Here, it is proposed that this anatomical shape plays an essential role in food storage when food availability is abundant. The stomach mucosa is composed of epithelial cells with intense neutral mucin secretion to protects against gastric juice. The intestine is slightly coiled and presents internally a complex pattern of transversal folds that increases the absorption surface and the retention time of food. Goblet cells in the intestine secrete acid and neutral mucins that lubricate the epithelium and aid in the digestive processes. In the rectum, an increase in goblet cells population occurs that may be related to better lubrication.     

Comparative digestive biology between the ponyfishes from the Pranburi River estuary,Thailand

We investigated the digestive biology of two prevalent leiognathid species in Pranburi River estuary, Thailand: the decorated ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) and the splendid polyfish (Eubleekeria splendens). A total of 632 samples collected from February to April and September to November 2017 were analysed using morphological and histological approaches. The overall structures were similar between the species: a short mucous-cell-rich oesophagus region, a well-developed gastric gland uniformly present across the stomach's mucosal layer, and three finger-like pyloric caeca between the stomach and intestine. However, there were marked differences in the mouth, gill raker, and intestinal coefficient (IC). N. gerreoides had a relatively longer mouth, smoother gill rakers, and an IC of 1.08 ± 0.01, similar to those of other carnivorous fish. In contrast, the gill raker of E. splendens had more villiform teeth that can filter-feed better, and their IC was 2.16 ± 0.02 (i.e., longer intestine). Although digestive structures were generally similar between the ponyfishes, these differences suggest that N. gerreoides is relatively carnivorous with stronger suction, whereas E. splendens may be an omnivorous or herbivorous filter-feeder.