Histological changes induced by dietary phospholipids in intestine and liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) larvae

Histological observations were made in common carp larvae in order to understand the origin of the phospholipid (PL) requirement of fish during their young stages. Larvae were fed for 6 or 8 days after start-feeding on semi-purified diets containing peanut oil and supplemented with or without different PL fractions enriched in phosphatidylcholine (PC) or phosphatidylinositol (PI). A group of larvae was also fed Artemia nauplii. Dietary PL deficiency was associated with an accumulation of fat droplets in the enterocytes of the anterior intestine, an increase in height of mucosal epithelium, a reduced total liver volume and mean hepatocyte volume. In contrast, diet supplementation with PC from hen egg yolk or from soybean prevented the intestinal steatosis and resulted in larger liver volume and larger hepatocyte volume. Larvae fed Artemia showed the same features as larvae fed PC-enriched diets. Hydrogenated PC also prevented the intestinal steatosis but resulted in small liver and hepatocyte size. Larvae fed PI-enriched diets exhibited intestinal steatosis, although less systematically than larvae fed PL-deficient diets, and reduced liver and hepatocyte size. Results support previous opinions that PL are needed for the absorption of neutral lipids although their beneficial effect appears to be independent of their emulsifying properties. The limiting stage seems to be the synthesis and exportation of chylomicrons or very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) by the enterocytes and not the intraluminal formation of micelles. PC appears to have a specific role for chylomicrons and VLDL synthesis and secretion, as in mammals. The reduced liver and hepatocyte size in the absence of PC could result from a decreased energy supply due to poor lipid absorption.