Comparative of Hepatocytes and Intestinal Villi in Zebra Fish (Danio rerio) and Guppy Fish (Poecilia reticulata): Novel Insights into Species-Specific Fish for Animal Model

The zebra fish (Danio rerio) is widely recognized as a prominent model organism in research. In contrast, Indonesia, with its abundant aquatic resources, frequently encounters the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) in its freshwater ecosystems. Notably, guppies exhibit reproductive rates akin to those of zebra fish. This study endeavors to compare the histomorphometric characteristics of the liver and intestinal organs between zebra fish and guppies. The research involved 9 zebra fish and 9 guppies obtained from local breeders in Malang, East Java. Following euthanasia, histological samples were prepared through a series of procedures including fixation, trimming, dehydration, clearing, paraffin embedding, sectioning, Hematoxylin-Eosin staining, and mounting. Histomorphometric observations focused on the diameter and area of hepatocytes, as well as the height and width of intestinal villi. The data were analyzed quantitatively using an Independent Sample T-Test at a 95% confidence level, facilitated by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The findings revealed statistically significant differences in the histomorphometry of hepatocyte diameter and area, as well as the height and width of intestinal villi between zebra fish and guppies, with a significance value (2-tailed) of <0.05. These differences are attributed to various factors, including habitat, dietary selection and frequency, and physiological adaptations to the environmental conditions of the two species. The findings also contributed to novel insight utilizing these fish to be animal models that guppy fish is more suitable for aquaculture research model and zebra fish likely to more appropriate in human model.