The absorptive cells lining the mucosa of the intestine, caeca and rectum of farm-reared adult rainbow trout (Salmo guirdneri Rich.) were studied by light and electron microscopy.Most of the intestinal absorptive cells showed morphological characteristics of lipid absorption. The cytoplasm of a few cells was closely packed with mitochondria. The caecal absorptive cells resembled those ofthe intestine but contained more apical dense bodies and more complex lamellar structures which, in conjunction with the intercellular spaces, appeared to play more active roles in lipid absorption. The rectal lumen was divided into peripheral and central parts by the complex mucosal folds. The surface of the peripheral part was mostly lined by vacuolated cells except for small patches of non-vacuolated (generative) cells between the bases of the folds. The central lumen was lined mainly by a second type of non-vacuolated cell. The vacuolated cells showed structural indications of a function of absorption of protein macromolecules.There is morphological evidence to suggest that the pattern of absorption of lipids and proteins in the adult rainbow trout is similar to that demonstrated in stomachless teleosts and that both intraluminal and intracellular digestion of proteins co-exist in this teleost.

The distribution, morphology and cytochemistry of the eosinophilic granule cells in the gut of the rainbow trout, Salmo guirdneri, were studied using light and electron microscopes.Granule cells were associated generally with the propria of the gut wall, the majority being arranged in a definitive layer, as a stratum granulosum. The cytoplasm of the eosinophilic granule cells contained numerous spherical, membrane-bound, homogeneous electrondense granules, ranging from 0.1-1.3 pm in diameter. A portion of the cytoplasm located towards one pole of the cell was usually devoid of organelles other than ribosomes. Whatever their location, the eosinophilic granule cells were always associated with fixed connective tissue cells, referred to here as ' ensheathing ' cells. Phospholipid, acid mucopolysaccharide and the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase and 5-nucleotidase were demonstrated in the granules. It is hypothesized that the ' ensheathing ' cells and eosinophilic granule cells constitute a part of the body defence mechanism.

The topological characteristics of the entire gut surface of the rainbow trout were investigated utilizing the scanning electron microscope. The mucosa exhibited longitudinal ridges in the oesophagus and stomach, villi in the intestine, fine longitudinal ridges in the caeca and annular folds in the rectum, arranged as a stack ofcaudally-directed funnels starting from the intestino-rectal valve to the vent. Detailed study revealed taste pores in the anterior oesophagus and the sculpting of the luminal plasmalemma of the surface cells into microridges with complicated patterns. The surfaces of the posterior oesophagus and stomach were demarcated into polygons by rows of stubby microvilli-each polygon representing the luminal surface of an epithelial cell. Each rectal fold consisted of a smooth, caudallydirected apex and a base which was supported by perpendicular buttress-like secondary folds. The functional significance of these features which emphasize the vast difference in the physical length ofthe gut and the effective surface area is discussed.

Caprine hemal nodes were studied by light microscopy after glutaraldehyde fixation and epoxy resin embedding. Anode consisted of a capsule, subcapsular and other sinuses, cortex, medulla and hilus. Elements of circulating blood filled the interstices of the reticular meshwork and associated macrophages which traversed the lumina of subcapsular and medullary sinuses. The latter were rare in 1-month-old goats, progressively increased in number and size in 2- to 4-month-old goats and coalesced with each other and the subcapsular sinus in adult animals. The cortical tissue appeared as lymphoid nodules. Circumferential lymphatic vessels abutted on outer margins of the nodules and gave origin to several radial lymphatics which branched and anastomosed between the medullary blood sinuses. Medullary cords were organized around the radial lymphatics. A single efferent lymphatic was formed at the hilum by confluence of the radial lymphatics. Our study, in contrast to earlier reports, shows that caprine hemal nodes possess efferent lymphatics. The present data suggest that the hemal nodes are involved, in addition to classical functions, in blood storage by hemoconcentration.

Caprine hemal nodes were studied by transmission electron microscopy after glutaraldehyde fixation and epoxy resin embedding. Hemal node macrophages were observed to be engaged in erythrophagocytosis. In the early stages of endocytosis, intact erythrocytes were contained in some of the heterophagic vacuoles of macrophages. Later, granular, electron-dense material appeared on erythrocytes, presumably as a result of lysosomal degradation of their matrices. Subsequently, the matrix fragmented and probably formed ‘myelin-like figures’ and residual bodies that dominated the macrophage cytoplasm. In addition, images of sinusoidal endothelium, reticular cells, lymphocytes and, rarely, eosinophils were observed that depicted structures resembling various stages of lysosomal digestion of erythrocyte matrix noted in macrophages. Our study provides evidence to support the fact that effete erythrocytes are filtered, besides known organs, also in caprine hemal nodes. The morphology and location of hemal nodes suggest that the organ can be an efficient blood filter.