Main Article Content

Abstract

The digestive system of Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis was studied using histological and histochemical techniques. The wall of oesophagus and stomach fundus consisted of four histological layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and the outer layer. Mucosa, the innermost layer, usually consisted of three different layers, including epithelium, lamina propria and lamina muscularis mucosae. Submucosa of connective tissue with blood vessels and nerve fibres underlined the mucosa and usually protrudes into the mucosal folds except in the gallbladder where it is completely absent. The muscular layer of the digestive system consisted of smooth muscles arranged in longitudinal, circular or oblique layers. Striated fibres were found in the oesophageal wall. The outermost layer comes as tunica adventitia in upper parts and tunica serosa in lower parts of the digestive system. Hepatocytes were surrounded by a mass of fat-storing cells. Serous acini of pancreas were scattered down the length of the stomach. Alcian blue/PAS technique revealed that alkaline and neutral mucopolysaccharides were present in oesophagus while acidic mucopoly-saccharides was found in the stomach and intestines. 

Keywords

Histoarchitecture Histochemistry Pleuronectiformes Adriatic Sea.

Article Details

How to Cite
BEBIĆ, M., KEVIĆ, N., RESTOVIĆ, I., ŠANTIĆ, M., & BOČINA, I. (2020). Histological and histochemical studies of digestive system in the megrim, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Teleostei: Scophthalmidae). Iranian Journal of Ichthyology, 7(2), 125–135. Retrieved from http://www.ijichthyol.org/index.php/iji/article/view/7-2-1

References

    Al Abdulhadi, H. 2005. Some comparative histological studies on alimentary tract of tilapia fish (Tilapia spilurus) and sea bream (Mylio cuvieri). Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 31: 387-397.
    Albrecht, M.P.; Ferreira, M.F.N.& Caramaschi, E.P. 2001. Anatomical features and histology of the digestive tract of two related neotropical omnivorous fishes (Characiformes; Anostomidae). Journal of Fish Biology 58: 419-430.
    Al-Hussaini, A.H. 1949. On the functional morphology of the alimentary tract of some fish in relation to differences in their feeding habits: Anatomy and histology. Journal of Cell Sciences 3-90:109-139.
    Andrew, W. 1959.Textbook of comparative histology. Oxford University Press, New York.
    Arellano, J.M.; Storch, V. & Sarasquete, C. 2001. Histological and histochemical observations in the stomach of the Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis. Histology and Histopathology16: 511-521.
    Bishop, C. & Odense, P. 1966. Morphology of the digestive tract of the cod, Gadus morhua.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 23: 1607–1615.
    Bočina, I.; Ružić, S.; Restović, I. & Paladin, A. 2016. Histological features of the digestive tract of the adult European hake Merluccius merluccius (Pisces: Merlucciidae). Italian Journal of Zoology 83: 26-33.
    Bočina, I.; Šantić, Ž.; Restović, I. & Topić, S. 2017. Histology of the digestive system of the garfish Belone belone (Teleostei: Belonidae). Italian Journal of Zoology 84: 89-95.
    Buddington, R.K.; Krogdahl, A. & Bakke-McKellep, A.M. 1997. The intestines of carnivorous fish: Structure and functions and the relations with diet. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 638: 67-80.
    Cao, X.J. & Wang, W.M. 2009. Histology and mucin histochemistry of the digestive tract of yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 38: 254-261.
    Cataldi, E.; Cataudella, S.; Monaco, G.; Rossi, A. & Tancioni, L. 1987. A study of the histology and morphology of the digestive tract of see-bream, Sparusaurata. Journal of Fish Biology 30: 135-145.
    Chatchavalvanich, K.; Marcos, R.; Poonpirom, J.; Thongpan, A. & Rocha, E. 2006. Histology of the digestive tract of the freshwater stingray Himantura signifier Compagno and Roberts, 1982 (Elasmobranchii, Dasyatidae). Anatomy and Embryology 211:n507-518.
    Clarke, A.J. & Witcomb, D.M. 1980. A study of the histology and morphology of the digestive tract of the common ell (Anguilla anguilla). Journal of Fish Biology16:159-170.
    Danancher, D. & Garcia-Vazquez, E. 2009. Population differentiation in megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and four spotted megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) across Atlantic and Mediterranean waters and implications for wild stock management. Marine Biology 156:1869-1880.
    Dai, X.; Shu, M. & Fang, W. 2007. Histological and ultrastructural study of the digestive tract of rice field eel, Monopterus albus. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23: 177-183.
    Day, R.D.; German, D.P.; Manjakasy, J.M.; Farr, I.; Hansen, M.J. & Tibbetts, I.R. 2011. Enzymatic digestion in stomachless fishes: How a simple gut accommodates both herbivory and carnivory. Journal of Comparative Physiology B181: n603-613.
    Diaz, A.O.; Garcia, A.M.; Figueroa, D.E.; Goldemberg, A.L. 2008. The mucosa of the digestive tract in Micropogonias furnieri: a light and electron microscope approach. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series C: Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 37: 251-256.
    Fahy, E. & Fannon, E. 1992. The exploitation of megrim Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis by the Irish demersal fleet. Irish Fisheries Investigations Series B. Department of the Marine. http://hdl.handle.net /10793/124
    Ferrando, S.; Maisano, M.; Parrino, V.; Ferrando, T.; Girosi, L. & Tagliafierro, G. 2006. Gut morphology and mettallothionein immunoreactivity in Liza aurata from different heavy metal polluted environments. Italian Journal of Zoology 73: 7-14.
    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018. FAO PUBLICATIONS CATALOGUE.http://www.fao.org/3/I9004EN/i9004en.pdf.
    German, D.P.; Nagle, B.C.; Villeda, J.M.; Ruiz, A.M.; Thompson, A.W.; Contreras Balderas, S. & Evans, D.H. 2010. Evolution of herbivory in a carnivorous clade of minnows (Teleostei: Cyprinidae): Effects on gut size and digestive physiology. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 83: 1-18.
    Gerritsen, H.D.; McGrath, D.; Lordan, C. & Harlay, X. 2010. Differences in habitat selection of male and female megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, Walbaum) to the west of Ireland. A result of differences in life-history strategies between the sexes? Journal of Sea Research 64:n487-493.
    Horn, M.H.; Gawlicka, A.K.; German, D.P.; Logothetis, E.A.; Cavanagh, J.W. & Boyle, K.S. 2006. Structure and function of the stomachless digestive system in three related species of New World silverside fishes (Atherinopsidae) representing herbivory, omnivory, and carnivory. Marine Biology 149: 1237-1245.
    Jardas, I. 1996. Adriatic Ichthyofauna Jadranska Ihtiofauna. Školska knjiga, Zagreb.
    Kalhoro, H.; Tong, S.; Wang, L.; Hua, Y.; Volatiana, J.A. & Shao, Q. 2018. Morphological study of the gastrointestinal tract of Larimichthys crocea (Acanthopterygii: Perciformes). Zoologia 35: e25171
    Kapoor, B.G.; Smit, H. & Verighina, I.A. 1975. The alimentary canal and digestion in teleosts. Advances in Marine Biology 13: 109-239.
    Kierszenbaum, A.L. & Tres, L.L. 2012. Histology and cell biology. An introduction to pathology.3rd Edition. Elsevier, Philadelphia.
    Kozarić, Z. 2001. Fish Morphology. Morfologija riba. Školska knjiga, Zagreb.
    Landa, J. & Piñeiro, C. 2000. Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) growth in the North-eastern Atlantic based on back-calculation of otolith rings. ICES Journal of Marine Science 57:1077-1090.
    Nazlić, M.; Paladin, A. & Bočina, I. 2014. Histology of the digestive system of the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus L. Acta Adriatica 55: 65-74.
    Park, J.Y. & Kim, I.S. 2001. Histology and mucin histochemistry of the gastrointestinal tract of the mud loach, in relation to respiration. Journal of fish Biology 58: 861-872.
    Sánchez, F.; Peŕez, N. & Landa, J. 1998. Distribution and abundance of megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) on the northern Spanish shelf. ICES Journal of Marine Science 55: 494-514.
    Sarasquete, C.; Gisbert, E.; Ribeiro, L.; Vieira, L. & Dinis, M.T. 2001. Glyconjugates in epidermal, branchial and digestive mucous cells and gastric glands of gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata, Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis and Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baeri development. European Journal of Histochemistry 45: 267-278.
    Sheehan, D. & Hrapchak, B. 1980. Theory and Practice of Histotechnology.2nd Edition. Battelle Press, Ohio.
    Smith, D.M.; Grasty, R.C.; Theodosiou, N.A.; Tabin, C.J. & Nascone-Yoder, N.M. 2000. Evolutionary relationships between the amphibian, avian, and mammalian stomachs. Evolution and Development 2: 348-359.
    Stevens, C.E. & Hume, I.D. 1995. Comparative physiology of vertebrate digestive system. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, New York.
    Šantić, M.; Podvinski, M.; Pallaoro, A.; Jardas, I. & Kirinčić, M. 2009. Feeding habits of megrim, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Walbaum, 1792), from the central Adriatic Sea. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25: 417-422.
    Šantić, M.; Stagličić, N.; Pallaoro, A.; Markov, M. & Jardas, I. 2013. Age and growth of megrim Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Scophthalmidae) from eastern central Adriatic Sea. Cybium 37: 255-261.
    Treer, T.; Safner, R.; Aničić, I. & Lovrinov, M. 1995. Fisheries. Ribarstvo. Globus Press, Zagreb.