title: Morphology and histochemistry of the digestive tract in carnivorous freshwater Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae).
abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize the morphology and histochemistry of the digestive tract of Hemisorubim platyrhynchos, a freshwater carnivorous catfish found in Neotropical region, using gross anatomy, light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This species presented a short and tubular esophagus with thick longitudinal folds. The esophageal mucosa was lined by stratified squamous epithelium containing epithelial cells, club cells and also numerous goblet cells, which secreted acidic and neutral mucins to protect and lubricate the epithelium. The stomach was a J-shaped saccular organ consisting of the cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions. The cardiac and fundic regions contained tubular gastric glands, whereas these glands were absent in the pyloric region. The gastric epithelial cells presented apical secretions that predominantly consisted of neutral mucins. The gastric musculature was, therefore, likely designed for retaining prey and the mechanical preparation of food. The intestine consisted of four regions: anterior, middle, posterior and rectal. The anterior intestine possessed thick folds to increase the surface area for absorption, the middle intestine was coiled and the posterior intestine presented thin folds and a thick musculature. The intestinal epithelium consisted mainly of enterocytes and goblet cells. Enterocytes were columnar cells with a PAS-positive brush border that contained lysosomes in the posterior intestine. Goblet cells were more numerous in the posterior intestine and secreted acidic and neutral mucins important for lubricating and protecting the epithelium. The rectum was lined by columnar epithelium with goblet cells and epithelial cells containing apical acidic and neutral mucins.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Bauru, SP, Brazil; Institute of Biosciences, Letter and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors: Claudemir Kuhn
authors: CK
authors: Faccioli
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Bauru, SP, Brazil; Aquaculture Center of UNESP - CAUNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors: Renata Alari
authors: RA
authors: Chedid
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors: Antônio Carlos
authors: AC
authors: do Amaral
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors: Irene Bastos
authors: IB
authors: Franceschini Vicentini
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Bauru, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: carlosav@fc.unesp.br.
authors: Carlos Alberto
authors: CA
authors: Vicentini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000379:methods; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins
keywords: Catfish; Digestive tract; Hemisorubim platyrhynchos; Mucin; Ultrastructure