Abstract

GOMEZ-RAMIREZ, E et al. Histological Study of Digestive Tract of the Neón Cardenal Paracheirodon axelrodi (Characidae). Int. J. Morphol. [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.3, pp.782-786. ISSN 0717-9502.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022011000300018.

Cardinal neon, Paracheirodon axelrodi is the most exported ornamental fish in Colombia. However, many aspects of its biology are unknown. A histological study of the digestive tract was carried out and 15 specimens were sacrificed with MS 222, 0.5 g/L, fixed in 4 % formaldehyde and decalcified with 7% nitric acid. H&E technique was followed. P. axelrodi digestive tract showed four constitutive layers: mucosae, submucosae, muscular, and serosa. Mouth mucosae presents a stratified nonkeratinized squamous epithelium with many goblet cells, and no taste buds, submucosae with areolar connective tissue, and skeletal muscular layer. Teeth were conical and abundant. Along the whole intestinal tract the serous was a very thin connective tissue layer. Esophagus mucosae, submucosae, and muscular layer were similar to those of the mouth. However, muscular layer presented two layers in different orientations. Stomach mucosae were made of simple cylindrical epithelium with gastric glands. Submucosa did present areolar connective tissue, and muscular layer exhibited smooth muscle in two different orientations. The intestinal layers were similar to those of the stomach, but without gastric glands. Mucosae presented goblet cells especially at the posterior region. Intestinal folds were also observed. Tisular and morphological structure of P. axelrodi digestive tract suggests a small prey carnivorous fish.

Keywords : Paracheirodon Axelrodi; Digestive tract; Histology; Morphology.

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