Histological study of hepatopancreas in hi fin pangasius (Pangasius pangasius)

Objective: The liver and pancreas are characterized by multiple and complex functions: secretion (bile, enzymes), storage (vitamins, lipids, glycogen), synthesis (albumin, globulins, drugs), metabolism (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, drugs) and ext. An understanding of the structure of the liver and pancreas is vital to the interpretation of these processes. In this study, we aimed to determine the histological structures of the hepatopancreas in hi fin pangasius (Pangasius pangasius). Method & Materials: In this study, the hepatopancreas of six normal fish were studied microscopically. Samples were taken from liver and pancreas tissues of hi fin pangasius at 5 months of age. Tissue samples fixed for 48 h in 10% buffered formalin solution. Fixed tissue were dehydrated in graded ethanol solutions, cleared in xylene, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 6-7 μm. Sections were mounted and glass slides, deparaffinized and stained by Hematoxylin – eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Results & Conclusion: Microscopic results showed that the liver was covered by a thin serosa. The lobulation was not seen in the liver clearly. Parenchyma of the liver was primarily composed of polyhedral hepatocytes typically with central nuclei. Hepatocytes had many eosinoiphilic vacuoles. Amongst them many sinusoids are present. Pancreas tissue was penetrated into the liver along with portal vein. This is exocrine pancreatic tissue located in the liver and is collectively called the hepatopancreas. Exocrine pancreas tissue consisted of serous acini with centroacinar cells and their ducts. Acinar cells had a euchoromatin nucleus in basal portion and their cytoplasm was basophilic, but the apex of each cell contained eosinophilic zymogen granules. Thin septa of connective tissue separated hepatocytes from the exocrine pancreatic cells. Microscopic structures of hepatopancreas in this species was more similar to the other fishes, but it has also considerable structural differences.