Distribution of goblet and endocrine cells in the intestine: A comparative study in Amazonian freshwater Tambaqui and hybrid catfish

Abstract

Goblet cells (GCs) and endocrine cells (ECs) play an important role in intestine physiology, and few studies currently exist for Amazonian fishes. This study aimed to quantify the distribution of GCs and ECs producing cholecystokinin‐8 and neuropeptide Y, assessed by mucin histochemistry and peptides immunohistochemistry, in the intestine of two Amazonian species with different feeding habits Tambaqui (Colossosoma macropomum) and hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus), an omnivore and carnivore, respectively. A systematic literature review correlating feeding habit and GC and EC distribution was also included to contribute to the comparative study. The results of this study provided novel information about the gut cells of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish. Both, GCs and ECs can be found sweeping the entire intestine of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish although the cells can be more concentrated in certain segments. The GCs and ECs in Tambaqui were more uniformly distributed in the midgut segments (T1, T2, and T3). Unlike, in hybrid catfish GCs were more concentrated in the hindgut (C4) and ECs mainly in the two midgut segments (C1 and C2) of hybrid catfish. Based on the comparison between Tambaqui, hybrid catfish, and other fishes in the literature review, we suggest that cell distribution can be partially explained by feeding habits, carnivorous vs. omnivorous.

Mucosal Hallmarks in the Alimentary Canal of Northern Pike Esox lucius (Linnaeus)

“…Most studies of the distribution of mucous cell types in the gastrointestinal tract of fish have reported only presence/absence data [ 6 , 7 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Mucous cell counts allow a morphology/function comparison of parts of the digestive tract [ 8 ].…”

“…The proximal intestine showed a higher number of mucous cells compared to the medial and distal parts. In most fish, the abundance of mucous cells increases from proximal to distal in the intestine [ 8 , 10 , 27 ]. Acid mucins are predominant in the proximal intestine of E. lucius , the only region where a low number of mucous cells containing acidic sulfated mucins was identified.…”

“…This is not the case in herbivorous or omnivorous fish [ 6 , 34 ]. The distribution of mucous cell types in the fish digestive tract is reflective of their feeding behavior [ 8 ]. In the stomach, there is a high abundance of mixed mucins, with the acid component contributing to the lubrication of mucosae, aiding transit of the alimentary bolus [ 40 ].…”

“…Mucous cells are an essential component of the gut mucosal barrier, continuously producing and secreting mucins at the epithelial surface [ 5 , 6 ]. Most studies of the distribution of mucous cell types in fish gut are based on histochemical reaction to alcian blue (pH 2.5) followed by periodic acid Schiff (AB/PAS) staining or on high iron diamines staining followed by alcian blue (pH 2.5) (HID/AB) [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Lectin histochemistry allows better characterization of carbohydrate residues in the chemical structure of secreted mucins [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Features of Macro-Microscopic Morphology of the Human Large Intestine Glands with a Predominant Vegetarian Type of Diet

“…Имеются экспериментальные данные о стимулирующем действии растительной пищи, содержащей значительное количество пребиотиков (присутствуют во фруктах, овощах, злаках и др.) на железистый аппарат толстой кишки [5,13,14,16]. Эти материалы могут иметь практическое значение, учитывая высокую долю людей в популяции, придерживающихся употребления преимущественно растительной пищи в рационе (вегетарианцы, веганы), а также наличия большого количества программ, направленных на редукцию массы тела.…”