Food deprivation induces differential changes in contents and microstructures of digestive tract and appendages in bluegill fish, Lepomis macrochirus

1. 1. The digestive tract was compared with the tract appendages (caeca) in bluegill fish, Lepomis macrochirus in their response to short and long term food deprivation. 2. 2. Fasting for 7 days resulted in 80% reduction of food content in the main tract, but only 40% reduction in appendages (caeca). 3. 3. The intestine exhibited two different patterns of food distribution under fed and food deprived conditions. 4. 4. The histopathological impact of starvation was more prominent on the intestine than on caeca. 5. 5. These results suggest that digestive tract and appendages concommitantly conserve food during food scarcity, but appendages may offer advantages in retaining food longer, and in their greater resistance to starvation-induced effects.