Ikpegbu E. , Nlebedum U.C

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2015, Vol. 5, No. 21   doi: 10.5376/ija.2015.05.0021
Received: 30 Apr., 2015    Accepted: 23 Jul., 2015    Published: 27 Jul., 2015

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Ikpegbu E. and Nlebedum U.C., 2015, The Barbels of the Adult African Catfish from Eastern Nigeria: a Micro Morphological and Functional Study, International Journal of Aquaculture, 5(21): 1-6

The micro-morphology of adult farmed African catfish Clarias gariepinus barbel was investigated to enrich our knowledge of teleost biology as there is dearth information on this species barbel from available literature, and also for any functional morphological adaptation. After humane immobilization of the animal, the sample under study- barbels were dissected out and processed for routine histology. The histology revealed variation in the components of its root, stem and tip especially the relative size of the elastic cartilage core and surrounding connective tissue coat. The epithelium was of the stratified squamous cells containing mucous cells, taste buds, melanocytes and club cells. Beneath the epithelium was varying layers of highly vascularized and innervated connective tissue surrounding the linearly arranged elastic cartilage core. This micro-architecture can be related an organ involve in both mechanoreceptor through extensive innervations and chemoreceptor by means of the taste bud gustatory apparatus. The elastic cartilage core will enhance flexibility during movement while the club cells will help in flight or fight. The histology from this study suggest that the barbel will aid guide the fish in movement especially avoiding obstacles and predators, help in food search and selection through gustation.

Barbel; Mechanoreceptor; Chemoreceptor; Histology; African catfish