Organogenesis of the digestive system in Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru ) larvae

Abstract

This study reports the ontogenetic development of the digestive system of larval Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru), an important candidate species for aquaculture on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Histological sections of larvae were cut and dyed using the haematoxylin-eosin technique. The development of the digestive tract of Pacific red snapper larvae follows a general pattern of differentiation that can be divided into three stages. Stage I lasted from 1-3 days post hatching (DPH) and included the endogenous nutrition period; it was characterized by the initial differentiation of the digestive tract in preparation for the onset of exogenous feeding (3 DPH). At this time, the digestive tract was differentiated into buccopharynx, oesophagus, stomach anlage, anterior intestine, posterior intestine and a short rectum. The liver, pancreas and kidney were also present. The mouth and anus were open. Stage II occurred after first feeding, lasted for 16 days (4-23 DPH) and included both preflexion and flexion larvae. The main changes that occurred during this stage reflected the adaptation to exogenous feeding and the concomitant growth. Stage III (24-30 DPH) included post-flexion larvae and started with the appearance of the gastric glands and pyloric caeca. The presence of the gastric glands suggests that early weaning during culture trials of the Pacific red snapper larvae may be possible at this early age.

Development of the digestive system of Argentine hake, Merluccius hubbsi, larvae

“…The teeth in OPC observed at the beginning of the preflexion stage, indicates that M. hubbsi larvae are predators (Makrakis et al, 2005). The development of teeth and mucous cells in the OPC was observed at similar age or even in more advanced stages in other species such as Paralichthys californicus , Pagrus auriga , Thunnus thynnus , and Lutjanus peru (Gisbert, Piedrahita, & Conklin, 2004; Peña et al, 2017; Sánchez‐Amaya, Ortiz‐Delgado, García‐López, Cárdenas, & Sarasquete, 2007; Yúfera et al, 2014). These structures increase the food capture efficiency because they allow the selection of prey, food handling, mechanical digestion and epithelium lubrication (Peña et al, 2017).…”

“…The development of teeth and mucous cells in the OPC was observed at similar age or even in more advanced stages in other species such as Paralichthys californicus , Pagrus auriga , Thunnus thynnus , and Lutjanus peru (Gisbert, Piedrahita, & Conklin, 2004; Peña et al, 2017; Sánchez‐Amaya, Ortiz‐Delgado, García‐López, Cárdenas, & Sarasquete, 2007; Yúfera et al, 2014). These structures increase the food capture efficiency because they allow the selection of prey, food handling, mechanical digestion and epithelium lubrication (Peña et al, 2017). The ability to select the prey represents a nutritional benefit in terms of caloric content, since the calanoid copepodites <2 mm are the preferred prey of M. hubbsi larvae (Temperoni & Viñas, 2013) and these have high levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (Cripps & Atkinson, 2000; Verheye et al, 2005; Vogedes et al, 2010).…”

“…The histochemical analysis showed the glycosylation pattern of the digestive tract of the Argentine hake in its early life stages for the first time. As reported in larvae of various species such as Dentex dentex L. (Santamaría et al, 2004), Dicentrarchus labrax L. (García‐Hernández, Lozano, Elbal, & Agulleiro, 2001), P. californicus (Gisbert et al, 2004), P. auriga (Sánchez‐Amaya et al, 2007), Engraulis anchoita (Cohen et al, 2014), L. peru (Peña et al, 2017), the number of mucous cells in Argentine hake larvae varied according to the age and the region of the intestinal tract analyzed. The glycosylation pattern of the digestive tract of the larvae of M. hubbsi was similar to other teleost fish such as E. anchoita (Cohen et al, 2014), M. merluccius (Ortiz‐Delgado et al, 2012), Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (Faccioli et al, 2016).…”

“…The organogenesis of the digestive tract has been studied in various teleost species (Cohen et al, 2014; Faccioli et al, 2016; Makrakis et al, 2005; Ortiz‐Delgado et al, 2012; Peña, Dumas, & Contreras‐Olguín, 2017; Teles et al, 2015). Betti (2011) made a first description of the development pattern of the digestive system in M. hubbsi and this study deepens that information.…”

Ontogenic development of enzymatic activity and digestive system in Jullien's golden carp (Probarbus jullieniSauvage, 1880)

“…Generally, the weaning time varies by fish species, rearing conditions, genetic background, feeding practices and life history (Peňa, Dumas, & Contreras‐Olguín, ). Therefore, understanding the ontogenic changes of digestive enzymes, as well as histological development of digestive organs, may facilitate developing suitable artificial diets matching the maturity of physiology of digestion.…”