Morphological and histochemical characterization of the digestive tract of the puffer fish <i>Sphoeroides testudineus</i> (Linnaeus 1758) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae)

Morphological analysis of the digestive tract of Sphoeroides testudineus showed an esophagus with an anterior and a posterior portion, the abdominal pouch. No stomach was observed between the abdominal pouch and the intestine. The intestine was arranged in three segments and two loops, and the distal portion had the rectum opening into the anus. Histochemical analyses showed that the esophagus secreted acid mucosecretions, and that there was a qualitative increase in goblet cells from the proximal to distal area of the intestine. The rectum showed cells secreting acid and neutral mucus. Given these features, this species presents a morphology which creates a link between its ecology and behavior.

Key words:
Tetrodontiformes; digestive system; anatomy; mucosecretion; stomachless fish

Authorship

KAINÃ R.C. FAGUNDES

Laboratório de Morfologia de Animais Marinhos, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus do Litoral Paulista, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, 11330-900 São Vicente, SP, BrasilUniversidade Estadual PaulistaBrasilSão Vicente, SP, BrasilLaboratório de Morfologia de Animais Marinhos, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus do Litoral Paulista, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, 11330-900 São Vicente, SP, Brasil

MATHEUS M. ROTUNDO

Acervo de Zoológico, Universidade Santa Cecília, Rua Oswaldo Cruz, 277, 11045-907 Santos, SP, BrasilUniversidade Santa CecíliaBrasilSantos, SP, BrasilAcervo de Zoológico, Universidade Santa Cecília, Rua Oswaldo Cruz, 277, 11045-907 Santos, SP, Brasil

RENATA B. MARI

Correspondence to: Kainã R.C. Fagundes E-mail: kainafagundes@gmail.com

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures | Tables

Figures (5)
Tables (1)

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Figure 1
Overview of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Lateral view. - b. Ventral view evidencing the abdominal pouch (P), intestinal tract (I), liver (L), gonads (G), rectum (R). Bar: 0.5 cm.

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Figure 2
Composition of the digestive tract of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a and b. Scheme of the digestive tract showing the esophagus (E), abdominal pouch (P), intestinal segments (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd) evidencing the intestinal loop (arrows), rectum (R). - c. Inside view of the abdominal pouch showing the esophageal sphincter (arrowhead) and the mucosa of the pouch (asterisk). Bar: 1.0 cm.

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Figure 3
Stratigraphy of esophagus of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Anterior portion of esophagus. HE. - b. Posterior portion of esophagus (abdominal pouch). HE. Bar.: 100 µm. - c. High magnification of anterior esophagus showing the stratified squamous epithelium (arrow). HE. - d. High magnification of posterior portion of esophagus (abdominal pouch) with stratified squamous epithelium (arrow). HE. Bar.: 100 µm. Mucosa rich in globular unicellular mucous glands (*), lamina propria (lp), submucosa (sm), muscular layer (m).

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Figure 4
Stratigraphy of intestinal tract of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Intestine showing mucosa with simple columnar epithelium (arrow) and myenteric plexus between the circular and longitudinal muscular layer (arrow-head). HE. - b. Rectum. Mucosa with simple columnar epithelium (arrow). Mucosa rich in globular unicellular mucous glands (*), lamina propria (lp), submucosa (sm), muscular layer (m). HE. Bar.: 100 µm.

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Figure 5
Histochemical composition of glycoconjugates secreted by mucous glands of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Mucosa of the anteior portion of the esophagus evidencing the glands Alcian Blue-postive at pH 0.5 (*). PAS / AB 0.5. - b. Mucosa of the posterior portion of the esophagus showing glands Alcian Blue-postive at pH 0.5 (*). PAS / AB 0.5. - c. First intestinal segment with no reaction to PAS and AB. PAS / AB 0.5. - d. Second intestinal segment with goblet cells positive for Alcian Blue at pH 2.5 (*). PAS / AB 2.5. - e. Third intestinal segment rich in PAS-positive goblet cells and Alcian Blue at pH 2.5 (*). PAS / AB 2.5. - f. Rectum evidencing mucosa with PAS-postive unicellular globular glands (*). PAS. Lamina propria (lp), submucosa (sm), muscular layer (m). Bar: 100 µm.

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TABLE I
Reaction intensity histochemical rating of PAS and AB pH 0.5 and 2.5 of the mucosa of the segments of the digestive tract of puffer fish Sphoeroides testudineus .

Figure 1 Overview of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Lateral view. - b. Ventral view evidencing the abdominal pouch (P), intestinal tract (I), liver (L), gonads (G), rectum (R). Bar: 0.5 cm.

Figure 2 Composition of the digestive tract of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a and b. Scheme of the digestive tract showing the esophagus (E), abdominal pouch (P), intestinal segments (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd) evidencing the intestinal loop (arrows), rectum (R). - c. Inside view of the abdominal pouch showing the esophageal sphincter (arrowhead) and the mucosa of the pouch (asterisk). Bar: 1.0 cm.

Figure 3 Stratigraphy of esophagus of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Anterior portion of esophagus. HE. - b. Posterior portion of esophagus (abdominal pouch). HE. Bar.: 100 µm. - c. High magnification of anterior esophagus showing the stratified squamous epithelium (arrow). HE. - d. High magnification of posterior portion of esophagus (abdominal pouch) with stratified squamous epithelium (arrow). HE. Bar.: 100 µm. Mucosa rich in globular unicellular mucous glands (*), lamina propria (lp), submucosa (sm), muscular layer (m).

Figure 4 Stratigraphy of intestinal tract of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Intestine showing mucosa with simple columnar epithelium (arrow) and myenteric plexus between the circular and longitudinal muscular layer (arrow-head). HE. - b. Rectum. Mucosa with simple columnar epithelium (arrow). Mucosa rich in globular unicellular mucous glands (*), lamina propria (lp), submucosa (sm), muscular layer (m). HE. Bar.: 100 µm.

Figure 5 Histochemical composition of glycoconjugates secreted by mucous glands of Sphoeroides testudineus. - a. Mucosa of the anteior portion of the esophagus evidencing the glands Alcian Blue-postive at pH 0.5 (). PAS / AB 0.5. - b. Mucosa of the posterior portion of the esophagus showing glands Alcian Blue-postive at pH 0.5 (). PAS / AB 0.5. - c. First intestinal segment with no reaction to PAS and AB. PAS / AB 0.5. - d. Second intestinal segment with goblet cells positive for Alcian Blue at pH 2.5 (). PAS / AB 2.5. - e. Third intestinal segment rich in PAS-positive goblet cells and Alcian Blue at pH 2.5 (). PAS / AB 2.5. - f. Rectum evidencing mucosa with PAS-postive unicellular globular glands (*). PAS. Lamina propria (lp), submucosa (sm), muscular layer (m). Bar: 100 µm.

TABLE I Reaction intensity histochemical rating of PAS and AB pH 0.5 and 2.5 of the mucosa of the segments of the digestive tract of puffer fish Sphoeroides testudineus .

Histochemical staining	Segments of the Digestive Tract
	Anterior Esophagus	Posterior Esophagus	1^st Intestinal Segment	2^nd Intestinal Segment	3^rd Intestinal Segment	Rectum
PAS	+	+	+	+	+ + +	+ + +
AB pH 0.5	+ +	+ + +	-	+	+	+
AB pH 2.5	+ + +	+ + +	+	+ + +	+ +	+

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Métricas

Morphological and histochemical characterization of the digestive tract of the puffer fish <i>Sphoeroides testudineus</i> (Linnaeus 1758) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae)

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[1] Correspondence to: Kainã R.C. Fagundes E-mail: kainafagundes@gmail.com