A comparative study of the histology and microanatomy of the stomach in Mystus vittatus (Bloch), Liza parsia (Hamilton) and Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

Histological and topological architectures in the mucosal epithelium of the stomach of Mystus vittatus, Liza parsia and Oreochromis mossambicus were studied. The mucosa of the sac like stomach of M. vittatus was made up of superficial epithelium and gastric epithelium. The superficial epithelium was made up of single layer of columnar epithelial cells while the gastric epithelium was composed of gastric glands. In L. parsia the mucosal epithelium of the gizzard like stomach consisted of single layer of columnar epithelial cells but gastric glands were totally absent. The caecal like stomach of O. mossambicus was made up of superficial columnar epithelial cells and tubular gastric glands. The topological characteristics of the entire mucosa of the stomach of M. vittatus, L. parsia and O. mossambicus were provided with mucosal folds forming empty concavities. However, the concavities were comparatively deeper in O. mossambicus. The mucosal surface of stomach also typified with columnar epithelial cells whose apical surfaces were provided with short and stubby microridges in M. vittatus and L. parsia while in O. mossambicus the microridges were fine and delicate. Physiological functions of the stomach of aforesaid fishes were discussed.