Development of the digestive tract in the seahorse (Hippocampus erectus P.)

作者：Tindemans D^*; Rekecki A; Van den Broeck W

来源：Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 2010, 79(3): 207-212.

Seahorses have become an endangered species because of overfishing. Aquaculture could potentially compensate for this decline, but its effect is limited since most seahorses raised in captivity die as from the age of 5 clays. In this study the histological analysis of the alimentary tract of larvae aged 7 and 33 days is described, to help to understand their digestive mechanisms. At day 7 a lot of mucins could be found in the oesophagus. They are suggestive of pregastric digestion. digestion. At both ages, the stomach was observed as a sac-like distension cranially to the midgut, lacking gastric glands. A solid tubulus-shaped structure in between swimbladder and hindgut is suggestive of a regressing pneumatic duct.

• 出版日期2010-6