Development of digestive system and swim bladder of larval nase (Chondrostoma nasus L.)

Digestive tract and swim bladder differentiation during nase (Chondrostoma nasus L.) larval development was evaluated using histological methods. The mouth, pharynx and oesophagus were impervious at the time of hatching. The straight tubular intestine consisted of undifferentiated cells and was situated over the yolk sac. The intestine, lined with a single layer of columnar epithelial cells, opened on 2 day posthatching (dph). First evidence of protein digestion and absorption by the enterocytes was observed on the sixth day, while lipid digestion and absorption began on the ninth day of larval development. Intestinal mucous cells developed and became active by the fourth day. The posterior chamber of the swim bladder inflated on the third day, while the anterior one filled 12 dph. Complete yolk sac resorption took place on the ninth day.