Starvation-induced pathobiology in the gut of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

In order to assess the effects of starvation on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) count and histological changes of the carp gut mucosa, one group of fish (n = IO) were fed commercially prepared standard diets an d another group of fish (n = 10) were starved for 3 weeks. Carp starved for 4 weeks developed enteropathy, comprising folds atrophy, stratum compactum hyperplasia, significant periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive (P < 0.00001) , but not Alcian blue (ALB)-positive, goblet cell (GC) hyperplasia and a si gnificant decrease CP < 0.00001) in i-IEL numbers. These changes were assoc iated with a dense cellular infiltrate into the lamina propria. Taken toget her, these data suggest that the pathobiology of starvation-induced i-IELs decrease, matching PAS-positive goblet cell proliferation and inflammatory cells homing to the gut, could be classified as a non-infectious enteropath y induced by starvation.