Scanning electron microscopic study of the oesophageal mucous layer in the eel, Anguilla anguilla L.

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Humbert, W., Kirsch, R., Meister, M. F.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1984
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1984.tb04856.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1984.tb04856.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1984.tb04856.x

The structure of the mucous layer covering the oesophageal epithelium was analysed by scanning electron microscopy in the eel, Anguilla anguilla . Different fixation procedures were used to conserve the mucus in situ. The mucous layer changes progressively down the oesophagus from a thick dense layer to a very thin fibrous network. The possible roles of these mucous structures in ion absorption are discussed.