Abstract
The tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758), Triglidae, is an opportunistic, demersal carnivorous fish. Data on the digestive enzymes of tub gurnard have not been reported in the literature. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the distribution and intensity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, non-specific esterase, and aminopeptidase in the digestive tract of tub gurnard. To investigate data about those enzymes tissue samples of the esophagus, anterior and posterior part of the stomach, pyloric caeca, anterior, middle and posterior part of the intestine proper, and rectum were taken. Azo-coupling methods were used to detect the enzymatic reactions. The intensities of the reactions were measured using ImageJ software. Alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and non-specific esterase activities were found in all parts of the digestive tract. The brush border of the pyloric caeca and intestine proper were the main sites of alkaline phosphatase reaction, with intensity decreasing toward the posterior parts of the digestive tract. The high intensities of acid phosphatase were found in the epithelium of the anterior part of the stomach, pyloric caeca, anterior part of the intestine proper, and in the rectum. The intensity of non-specific esterase was mainly increased from the anterior to the posterior parts of the digestive tract. Aminopeptidase activity was found in the esophagus, pyloric caeca, and intestine proper. Our results suggest that the entire digestive tract of the tub gurnard is involved in the digestion and absorption of dietary components.
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Data availability
The data supporting the results of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Nada Crnogaj, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, for her technical assistance.
Funding
This research was carried out as a part of scientific project “Improvement of cooperation between fishermen and scientists for the purpose of introducing advanced technologies of marking of fishing tools, fish health and environmental protection” supported by the Operational Programme for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Croatia for the programming period 2014-2020. The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
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Lucija Bastiančić, Snježana Kužir, and Damir Valić contributed to the conception and design of the study. Marin Lovrić and Damir Valić organized the sampling of the fish. All authors were equally involved in the selection of methodology and supervision. Lucija Bastiančić and Snježana Kužir prepared the material, collected data, and analyzed the samples. Ivan Vlahek performed the statistical analysis of the study data. Lucija Bastiančić and Valerija Benko were responsible for imaging and image analyses. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Lucija Bastiančić and revised by all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Bastiančić, L., Vlahek, I., Benko, V. et al. Histochemical research of enzymes involved in cellular digestion in the digestive tract of tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna. Fish Physiol Biochem 50, 157–170 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-023-01188-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-023-01188-3