Histological structure of the digestive tract of the freshwater pearl mussel hyriopsis (Hyriopsis) bialatus (Bivalvia: Unionidae)
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Author list: Tantiwisawaruji S., Chatchavalvanich K., Kovitvadhi U., Thongpan A., Kovitvadhi S.
Publication year: 2011
Journal: Thai Journal of Agricultural Science (0049-3589)
Volume number: 44
Issue number: 1
Start page: 1
End page: 10
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0049-3589
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
Abstract
The microscopic structure of the digestive tract of Hyriopsis (Hyriopsis) bialatus is described. The mouth and oesophagus are lined by a simple ciliated columnar epithelium, while the stomach is divided into three regions: the gastric shield, the sorting area and the style sac. The long crystalline style (4.04 ฑ 0.21cm in length) in the lumen of the style sac stains positively for neutral mucin. Epithelial mucous cells containing acid and/or neutral mucins are numerous, and secretory digestive cells are also abundant. The digestive diverticula consist of blind-ending tubules composed of two cell types, digestive and basophilic cells. Mitotic figures were also observed. The anterior region of the midgut is lined by a simple ciliated columnar epithelium with no typhlosole. The internal wall of the posterior region of the midgut and rectum, however, has a typhlosole extending into the lumen. The long crystalline style in this freshwater pearl mussel is thought to assist in the digestion of the diverse phytoplankton readily available in their natural habitat.
Keywords
Crystalline style, Epithelium, Microscopic structure, Mucous lining, Tropical bivalve
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