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Morphological changes in the intestine of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus during aestivation and winter low-activity periods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2025

Kai Tanaka Open the ORCID record for Kai Tanaka [Opens in a new window] ,
Minoru Kihara  and
Izumi Sakurai
Kai Tanaka*
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan Hokkaido Regional Research Center, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Minoru Kihara
Affiliation:
School of Biological Science, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Izumi Sakurai
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan Hokkaido Regional Research Center, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan School of Biological Science, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
*
Corresponding author: Kai Tanaka; Email: kai.tanaka.002@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study investigated intestinal retraction and regeneration in the Japanese sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) during high water temperature periods and compared these morphological changes with those during low water temperature conditions in the subarctic. We examined the intestinal morphology of A. japonicus during the aestivation and winter low-activity periods under natural-like environmental conditions, including the water temperature, photoperiod, and seawater quality. Water temperatures ranged from −1.1°C to 29.2°C. Aestivating individuals were observed from July to September when water temperatures were high. During this period, intestinal length, weight, and thickness decreased, with signs of recovery by November. The mucosal layer height also decreased, with partial loss or disappearance. In contrast, no intestinal retraction occurred from January to March at low temperatures. Additionally, under high temperatures, the muscle layer thinned significantly, and lipofuscin-like granules, thought to be residual material from intracellular digestion by lysosomes, appeared in the submucosal layer. A common feature in both temperature periods was the presence of haemolymph-like cells in the submucosal layer near the mucosa. These findings suggest that intestinal retraction and degeneration in A. japonicus under high temperatures may result from energy conservation mechanisms, fasting, or reduced food intake during aestivation and winter dormancy.

Keywords

activity slowdownaestivationApostichopus japonicushistological changesintestine

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 105 , 2025 , e111
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

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