Author/Authors :
Daprà, Franco Departemnt of Animal Production,Epidemiology and Ecology, Italy , Gai, Francesco Institute of Sciences of Food Production, Italy , Palmegiano, Giovanni B. Institute of Sciences of Food Production, Italy , Sicuro, Benedetto Departemnt of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, Italy , Falzone, Mimmo University of Torino - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Veterinary Morpho-physiology, Italy , Cabiale, Karine University of Torino - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Veterinary Morpho-physiology, Italy , Galloni, Marco University of Torino - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Veterinary Morpho-physiology, Italy
Abstract :
Efforts to refine rations for captive rearing are dependent on a clear understanding of gut anatomy and function. Grossanatomic and histological descriptions of the gut of the Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baeri, are provided in thismanuscript to serve as a baseline characterization for comparison during basic research and health surveys of Siberiansturgeon populations. Histological evaluations were carried out on 200 individuals (body weight ranging from 50 to8000 g), using gross anatomy and light microscopy. The most characteristic finding is about pancreas, which hasthree distinct lobes. The pancreatic duct ends in a papilla between the small intestine and the pyloric caecum.Eosinophilic zymogen granules characterize exocrine cells, and the endocrine cells are grouped together in structuresthat are similar to mammalian Islets of Langerhans with not homogeneous distribution. Morphometrical evaluationshows that the mean area of the islets is 8.32 mm2×10-3. The Siberian sturgeon pancreas is a morphologically distinctorgan functionally and histologically similar to that of mammals.
Keywords :
Siberian Sturgeon , Gut , Pancreas , Anatomy , Histology
