In this study we examined the ontogenic development of the digestive tract of Vimba bream (Vimba vimba, Family: Cyprinidae) during the first 60 days of life (hatching to 60 days after hatching [DAH]). Samples of developing Vimba bream were randomly selected at various stages of development: 1-8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 DAH. For the histological and histochemical studies on the development of the alimentary canal, tissue sections prepared from the sampled hatchlings were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff and observed under a light microscope. The histological structures of both the mouth and esophagus were fully developed at 5 and 7 DAH, respectively. Intestinal differentiation was observed at 2 DAH, while mucosal folds appeared on the intestinal bulb at 7 DAH. At 5 DAH, with the appearance of goblet cells in the epithelium of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus, the larvae showed secretion activity in these organs. At 6 DAH, secretion was observed in the intestine; at this stage of development, the surface of the gastrointestinal tract was covered in a neutral mucous-like layer of polysaccharide. The histological observations indicate that the early development of the digestive tract in Vimba vimba enables larvae to efficiently ingest and digest exogenous feed very quickly after hatching.
Keywords: Development; Digestive tract; Histochemistry; Ontogeny; Vimba bream.