By using morphorlogy and paraffin section technique

effects of starvation stress on the histological structure of the digestive organs including esophagus

stomach

pyloric caecum

intestine and hepatopancreas and their characteristics of changes were investigated in 375 juveniles of

Trachinotus ovatus

starved for 0

3

6

9 and 12 d respectively for the purpose of understanding the changes in morphorlogy and histology and capacity of tolerence under starvation. The histology results show that effects of the short time starvation within 3 d on the digestive system were of no significance

with starvation time injury began to occur in digestive organs. The damage to digestive organs was lesser from the 6 to 9th days after starvation

and on 12th days after starvation

severe damage were found. Lumen of digestive tract became narrow and thinning

the epithelial cell boundaries were blurred

epithelial falled off and fractured

and secretory cells bacame smaller in size. Damage of histological structure in esophagus by starvation were minor compared with other organs. The effects of starvation were similar about the histological structure of the stomach

pyloric caeca and intestinal tract. Severer damage were found in hepatopancreas than other organs. In conclusion changes to varying degrees took place in digestive organs of juveniles of

Trachinotus ovatus

by starvation

and effect of starvation on differenct organs varied as time.