Fine Structure and Function of the Alimentary Canal in Leptocephali of the Japanese Eel <i>Anguilla japonica</i>

Otake Tsuguo

doi:10.2331/fishsci.62.28

The fine structure of the alimentary canal epithelium in leptocephali of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica (11.0-47.7mm in total length) was examined. The alimentary canal was histologically divided into three segments: fore-, mid-and hindgut. No size-dependent differences occurred in either morphological or cytological features of the epithelia in each segment. The foregut epithelium comprised flat cells, which lacked any absorptive function, unlike the mid- and hindgut. The midgut absorptive cells were characterized by numerous vacuoles and a highly developed lamellar membranous structure with large, closely associated mitochondria. The development of the lamellar membranous structure suggested that water and solute transport occurred actively in the midgut epithelium. In the hindgut absorptive cells many pinocytotic vacuoles with fine particle inclusions were present in the upper half of the cytoplasm, in addition to many macrophage-like cells distributed under and sometimes intruding into the hindgut epithelium, suggesting that the hindgut is involved in the uptake and intracellular digestion of intact macromolecules.

Fine Structure and Function of the Alimentary Canal in Leptocephali of the Japanese Eel <i>Anguilla japonica</i>

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