The anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens. 2010

José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. icardojm@unican.es

The gastrointestinal tract of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens is a composite, which includes the gut, the spleen, and the pancreas. The gut is formed by a short oesophagus, a longitudinal stomach, a pyloric valve, a spiraling intestine, and a cloaca. Coiling of the intestine begins dorsally below the pylorus, winding down to form six complete turns before ending into the cloaca. A reticular tissue of undisclosed nature accompanies the winding of the intestinal mucosa. The spleen is located along the right side of the stomach, overlapping the cranial end of the pancreas. The pancreas occupies the shallow area, which indicates on the gut dorsal side the beginning of the intestine coiling. In addition, up to 25 lymphatic-like nodes accompany the inner border of the spiral valve. The mesenteric artery forms a long axis for the intestine. All the components of the gastrointestinal tract are attached to each other by connective sheaths, and are wrapped by connective tissue, and by the serosa externally. We believe that several previous observations have been misinterpreted and that the anatomy of the lungfish gut is more similar among all the three lungfish genera than previously thought. Curiously, the gross anatomical organization is not modified during aestivation. We hypothesize that the absence of function is accompanied by structural modifications of the epithelium, and are currently investigating this possibility.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007413 Intestinal Mucosa Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI. Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D007422 Intestines The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE. Intestine
D005399 Fishes A group of cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates having gills, fins, a cartilaginous or bony endoskeleton, and elongated bodies covered with scales.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013270 Stomach An organ of digestion situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen between the termination of the ESOPHAGUS and the beginning of the DUODENUM. Stomachs
D014714 Vertebrates Animals having a vertebral column, members of the phylum Chordata, subphylum Craniata comprising mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. Vertebrate
D041981 Gastrointestinal Tract Generally refers to the digestive structures stretching from the MOUTH to ANUS, but does not include the accessory glandular organs (LIVER; BILIARY TRACT; PANCREAS). Digestive Tract,GI Tract,Digestive Tracts,GI Tracts,Gastrointestinal Tracts

Related Publications

José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
January 2014, Temperature (Austin, Tex.),
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
February 2002, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
September 1997, General and comparative endocrinology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
January 2011, Journal of environmental biology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
June 2007, The Journal of experimental biology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
November 2009, Journal of environmental biology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
February 1987, The Journal of comparative neurology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
April 2024, Scientific reports,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
July 1959, The Journal of endocrinology,
José M Icardo, and Wai P Wong, and Elvira Colvee, and Ai M Loong, and Yuen K Ip
September 1989, The Journal of comparative neurology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!