Carbohydrases In The Alimentary Canal And Associated Organs Of The African Snakehead, Parachanna Africans (Osteichthyes: Channidae)

Abstract

Standard qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to determine the presence and activity of digestive carbohydrases in different regions of the alimentary canal and associated organs of the African snakehead, Parachanna africans. Qualitatively, amylase, maltase, sucrase, and lactase were present in the stomach, pyloric ceca, anterior and posterior intestine, liver and spleen. No carbohydrases were found in the esophagus whereas cellulase was com- pletely absent throughout the canal and organs. Quantitatively, a relatively large amount of lac- tase and maltase was found throughout the canal and organs (except the esophagus) while sucrase was active in varying degrees in all the canal regions and associated organs (except the esophagus).