Abstract
ABSTRACTA study was designed to evaluate the hepatopancreas of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) as a potential indicator organ for early dietary stress. Seventy‐five 7th stage lobsters were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was fed live brine shrimp (Artemia salina), group 2 was fed a sub‐optimal artificial diet (M4), and group 3 was starved. Three animals from each group were sacrificed at days 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 22 and 29. The hepatopancreas from each animal was examined grossly and then prepared for histological evaluation. A general atrophy of especially the absorptive and secretory cells in the hepatopancreas of the starved animals was noticed as early as 4 days. In the hepatopancreas of the M4 fed juveniles, a progressive increase in the number of pycnotic nuclei and necrosis was evident by 8 days. Evidence of amyloid and ceroid were also observed. This ability to detect early cellular differences due to dietary deficiencies can be an important procedure for analyzing nutritional data.
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