Gross and Morphormetry of the Stomach of the Wild Gray Guinea Savannah Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

<p class="jbls"><span lang="EN-GB">Apparently healthy wild gray guinea savannah squirrel, totaling fourteen (14) in number were used for this study. After being captured from the wild, they were kept for two weeks before they were sacrificed. Weight and length of the whole animal, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and stomach were taken and recorded in gram (g) and centimeter (cm). The mean weight of live animal was 380.04 ± 46.00 g with the GIT counting for 9.97 % of the total body weight. The mean weight and length of the stomach were 1.59 ± 0.36 g and 4.00 ± 0.61 cm, accounting for 0.42 % and 2.94 % respectively. Externally, the stomach was gray-whitish in fresh sample, bean-shaped, covered almost entirely by deep pink like coloured liver ventrally. The interior surface is grayish with non glandular portion around the cardiac area and longitudinally folded glandular portion. Areas of sphincters were recognized as pyloric, toward the intestinal point of attachment to the stomach and cardiac sphincter toward the point of attachment of the esophagus. More folding was noticed toward the pyloric region indicative of food storing and distension capability of the stomach.</span></p>

Morfología del sistema reproductor de la hembra de Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae). Morphology of the female reproductive system of Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt)

RESUMEN. Debido a su importancia económica y con la finalidad de profundizar en el conocimiento sobre la biología reproductiva del gusano rojo del maguey Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), se determinó la morfología del sistema reproductor de la hembra de esta especie, el cual presenta en general las características básicas de otros Lepidoptera, con algunas particularidades específicas. La fecundidad potencial tuvo un valor promedio de 104 ovocitos por hembra. En la base de la bursa copulatrix se presentó un pequeño divertículo o lóbulo, y dentro de ella se encontró un solo espermatóforo. La espermateca presentó tanto un utrículo como una lagena. La porción glandular de las glándulas accesorias es inusualmente larga en comparación a otros Lepidoptera.ABSTRACT. Due to the economic significance of the agave red worm Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), and with the objective of increasing the knowledge about its reproductive biology, the morphology of the female reproductive system was studied. In general, it is similar to that of other Lepidoptera, with a few differences. The average potential fecundity was 104 oocytes per female. A small diverticulum or lobe was present in the base of the bursa copulatrix; inside the bursa, a single spermatophore was found. The spermatheca has a utriculus and a lagena. The glandular portion of the accessory glands is unusually long compared with other Lepidoptera.

Effects of age on histological parameters of the sweat glands of Nellore cattle

The sweat glands are important in thermoregulation of cattle in a warm environment as they help dissipate heat through evaporation. Studies on gland histology are important to define its secretion potential and the capacity of perspiration and heat removal. The objective of this study was to determine, by histomorphometry, glandular epithelium height, the depth of the gland, length of the glandular portion and number of glands per cm2 of the sweat glands of the three age groups of Nellore cattle. Thirty females were used in this study. They were equally divided into calves, heifers and cows. Histological sections were obtained and analyzed by digital images in Trinocular BX40 Olympus microscope coupled to an Oly - 200 camera, connected to a computer. The images were obtained with microscope with 2x, 4x, 10x and 40x magnification objectives. The measurements were performed using HL Image 97 program. The height of glandular epithelium, depth of the glands, length and density of the glandular portion per cm2 , were all analyzed. The calves showed greater height of the glandular epithelium than heifers (P = 0.0024), and cows (P = 0.0191). The depth of the gland was not influenced by age. Cows had higher length of secretory portion than heifers (P = 0.0379) and calves (P = 0.0077). Heifers had a greater number of sweat glands per cm2 of skin than cows (P = 0.023). In cattle, the height of glandular epithelium and the density decreases as animals get older. On the other hand, the length of the secretor portion increases but with no changes in the depth of the sweat glands

Genital morphology of the male South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) and biological implications

Male capacity for spreading genes to a great number of descendents and to determine population dynamics depend directly on the genital organs. Morphological studies in pinnipeds are scarce and the functional meaning of some characteristics has never been discussed. We hypothesized that Arctocephalus australis (A. australis) shows morphophysiological adaptations in order to guarantee the perpetuation of the species in the unique annual mating season. Seven males, dead from natural causes, had their genital organs collected and fixed for morphological description. Some features differ from other described mammalian males and are closely related to the biology and reproductive cycle of this species, as the scrotal epidermis, absence of glandular portion in the ductus deferens and spermatogenic epithelium suggest a recrudescent testis period. The corona glandis exhibits a singular arrangement: its erectile border looks like a formation of petals and its association with the os penis gives a "lily-flower" form to this region. We propose the name margo petaliformis to this particular erectile border of the corona glandis because of its similarity to a flower corola. The male genital organs of A. australis show morphological features compatible with adaptation to environment requirements and reproductive efficiency.

SEM studies on the leaf indumentum of six Melastomataceae species from Brazilian Cerrado

The wide diversity of their trichomes, which vary from simple unicellular to very complex structures, is a remarkable characteristic in Melastomataceae. This paper characterizes the leaf indumentum of Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana, M. chamissois Naudin, M. fallax DC., M. ligustroides (DC.) Naudin, Microlepis oleaefolia (DC.) Triana and Rhynchanthera dichotoma DC., typical species from Brazilian cerrado. Samples collected from the median third of young and mature leaf blades were processed following the usual scanning electron microscopy techniques (SEM). We observed ten morphological types of trichomes and four of emergences. With five different types, four of which are reported for the first time, Rhynchanthera dichotoma is the species that presents the most diverse indumenta. A mixed type of trichome formed by a glandular and a branched non-glandular portion called "lateral-gland" was observed in M. ligustroides. Such non-glandular portion presents different degrees of development. A correlation is suggested between the stage of development of the non-glandular portion and the exposition to light of these "lateral gland" on young leaves.

Black Tea and Theaflavins Assist Healing of Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulceration in Mice by Antioxidative Action

The healing activities of black tea (BT) and the theaflavins (TF) against the indomethacin-induced stomach ulceration were studied in a mouse model. Indomethacin (18 mg/kg, p.o.) administration induced maximum ulceration in the glandular portion of the gastric mucosa on the 3rd day, accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, depletion of thiol-defense and mucin, as well as reduced expressions of cyclooxygenases (COX) and prostaglandin (PG) E synthesis in the gastric tissues, and plasma total antioxidant status of mice. Treatment with BT (40 mg/kg), TF (1 mg/kg), and omeprazole (3 mg/kg) produced similar (74%–76%) ulcer healing, as revealed from the histopathological studies. Treatment with all the above samples reversed the adverse oxidative effects of indomethacin significantly. BT and TF also enhanced the PGE synthesis by augmenting the expressions of COX 1 and 2, but did not modulate acid secretion.

Camallanus maculatus n. sp. (Nematoda: Camallanidae) in an ornamental fish Xiphophorus maculatus (Osteichthyes: Poeciliidae) cultivated in São Paulo State, Brazil

The present study describes Camallanus maculatus n. sp. (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from Xiphophorus maculatus (Osteichthyes: Poecilidae) collected in an ornamental fish farm in São Paulo State, Brazil. Thirty-three out of 40 examined fish were parasitized (82% prevalence) with mean intensity of 2.8 (1-20). Male specimens were 3,500µm total length and females 7,100µm total length, provided with orange-brown buccal capsule and two developed tridents. Males showed two unequal spicules, gubernaculum absent and females with vulva situated in the middle of the body. The main characteristics were the sleekly longitudinal ridges in the buccal capsule in both sexes, enlargement at the anterior end of the smaller spicule, the number of genital papillae, longer muscular and glandular portion of esophagus and round tail in female.

Differential Development of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in Fore- and Glandular Stomach in Postnatal Rats

Many foods contain the unsaturated aldehyde, hexadlenal (HX). Human exposure is thus unavoidable. HX feeding to rodents caused cancers only in the forestomach. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) are key enzymes in the metabolism of aldehydes. We examined the distribution of ALDH using HX as the substrate (HXDH) along the GI tract of adolescent rats and found that their stomachs have high levels of HXDH activity and the enzyme preferred HX > 9-cis-retinal > acetyl aldehyde > formyl aldehyde. We also followed the postnatal development of the stomach. At birth, the forestomach represented 40–50% of the total stomach weight. Both fore- and glandular stomach gained weight, with the glandular portion gaining at a faster rate. By 21 days, the forestomach was 24–28% of the total weight and decreased slightly to an adult level of 22–24%. Gastric HXDH is low from birth to 14 days of age. HXDH activity increased thereafter, reaching higher levels at 21 days and peaking around 30–36 days of age. The activity then decreased to the adult level. The fore- and glandular stomach had the same level of HXDH activity in the newborn and at 7 and 14 days of age. At weaning, HXDH activity was higher (3×) in the forestomach than in the glandular stomach. In adults, the forestomach still had 2× the HXDH activity compared to the glandular stomach. Zymograms showed similar isozyme patterns of HXDH but with different ratios of the three major forms between the forestomach and the glandular stomach. Results indicate a differential development of HXDH between the fore- and glandular stomach that might be related to the higher sensitivity of the forestomach to HX feeding.

Gastric damage and body weight loss in LHA-lesioned rats: effects of cytoprotective geranylgeranylacetone

We investigated the development of gastric damage and body weight (BW) loss in lateral hypothalamic area (LHA)-lesioned rats, measured 2 h and 1 and 3 days after the lesioning (experiment 1), as well as the effects of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a cytoprotective antiulcer agent, on these disorders (experiment 2). In experiment 1, BW of LHA-lesioned rats decreased throughout the 3-day experiment. In LHA-lesioned rats, gastric mucosal lesions appeared 1 day after lesioning in the glandular portion and persisted, whereas those in the rumenal portion appeared only after 3 days. Gastric transepithelial potential differences (PDs) of glandular portion began to decrease after 2 h and had decreased in both portions. Gastric acid output was increased transiently at 2 h but it was not high after 1 day and after 3 days was lower than that in sham-LHA-lesioned rats. In experiment 2, PDs of the rumenal decreased more in LHA-lesioned rats than in sham-LHA-lesioned rats pair fed to LHA-lesioned rats after 3 days. Three days of treatment with GGA (200 mg/kg ip) improved PDs of rumenal and glandular portions in LHA-lesioned rats and reduced lesions of the rumenal portion. Loss of BW in LHA-lesioned rats was significantly but not completely inhibited by GGA. These results indicate that disturbance to the gastric defensive mechanism plays an important role in the development of gastric lesions after LHA lesions and that the impairment of gastric functions may be a partial cause of the loss of BW in LHA-lesioned rats.