The fine structure of the swine sweat gland. II. The coiled ducts

The duct of the swine sweat gland crosses the dermis and epidermis in sequence. The cells of the dermic segment seem to be related with cellular secretion and absorption. In the epidermic segment of the duct the whole morphology of the cells resembles the cellular morphology of the epidermic cells.

Adenocarcinoma polimorfo de baixo grau de malignidade do tipo papilífero. Estudo morfológico e imuno-histoquímico.

Two cases of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the papillary type, from minor salivary glands were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. One case exhibited a predominance of the papillary pattern, whereas the other presented the following patterns of histological appearance: papillary, solid, pseudocystic and tubular. Utilizing the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method, the intermediate filament vimentin, keratin and S100 protein were observed in tumor cells. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed two types of neoplastic cells: myoepithelial and luminal.

Alterações histológicas de glândulas submandibulares e testículos induzidas por dietas à base de soja e dieta zinco deficiente em ratos.

The purpose of this study was to examine in rats the histologic alterations of the submandibular glands and testicles induced by soy diets and zinc deficient diet. The zinc deficiency produced testicles alterations including seminiferous tubulus atrophy, germinative epithelium degeneration, spermatogenesis alterations and a significant atrophy of the submandibular glands which presented no much delimitated acines. The soy diet without complementations also compromised the spermatogenesis by showing seminiferous tubulus atrophied and a reduction of the germinative epithelium. The soy diet complemented by saline and vitaminic mixtures didn't produced testicles alterations but its induced in the submandibular glands a hypertrophy of the ductal component mainly in relation to the granular component.

Total intravenous anaesthesia in ponies using detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin: Pharmacokinetics, cardiopulmonary and endocrine effects

Pharmacokinetics and some pharmacological effects of anaesthesia induced by a combination of detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin were investigated in eight ponies. Cardiopulmonary function was studied and plasma met-enkephalin, dynorphin, β-endorphin; arginine vasopressin, adrenocorticotrophin, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and catecholamine concentrations were measured. The combination produced slight cardiorespiratory depression, hyperglycaemia and a reduction in haematocrit. There were no changes in plasma opioids, pituitary peptides or catecholamines. Plasma cortisol concentration decreased and plasma 11-deoxycortisol increased indicating a suppression of steroidogenesis. Steady state ketamine and guaiphenesin concentrations were attained during the infusion period, and ketamine concentrations likely to provide adequate analgesia for surgical operations were achieved (more than 2.2 μg ml-1). Steady state detomidine concentration was not attained. The ponies took on average 68 minutes to recover to standing and the recovery was uneventful.

Ultrastructural study of the coagulating gland of Wistar rats submitted to experimental chronic alcohol ingestion

Morphological changes of coagulating gland of Wistar rats submitted to the experimental chronic alcoholism were noted. Ultrastructurally, it was observed reduction of the granular endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and nuclei with basal position and irregular shape. The epithelial cells presented pycnotic nuclei and the mitochondrial cristae disappeared, characteristic of cellular degeneration.

Dwarf gynes in Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Apidae, Meliponinae, Trigonini). Behaviour, exocrine gland morphology and reproductive status

The behaviour and morphology of dwarf gynes produced in worker-sized cells of normal colonies in Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Meliponinae, Trigonini) were studied. The behaviour of these dwarf virgin queens was the same as observed for normal Trigonine gynes. The glandular equipment is also the same: Dufour glands, fat bodies and spermathecae are present. Despite these similarities, their ovaries are different. The functional significance of dwarf gynes is unknown, but may be a basis for an alternative reproductive strategy.

Ultrastructural study of the lateral lobe of the prostate of Wistar rats submitted to experimental chronic alcohol ingestion

Alcoholism is considered today one of the most serious social and medical problems. Different investigators have demonstrated that chronic exposure to alcohol causes morphological and physiological changes in the testes and in the accessory sex glands, in the prostate in particular. In the present study, experimental rats were divided into groups receiving sugar cane brandy diluted to 30° G.L. (30%, v/v) and Purina ration ad libitum for 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 days, respectively. At the end of each period the animals were sacrificed and the lateral lobe of the prostate was collected for histological examination. The results showed atrophied epithelium, accumulation of lipidic droplets and rupture of the microvilli that line the cell surface facing the lumen of cells of the secretory epithelium of the lateral lobe of the prostate.

Ultrastructure of the gland responsible for the synthesis of an aggregation pheromone in Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The ultrastructure of the glands responsible for synthesizing the aggregation pheromone rhynchophorol in the beetle Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) was studied. Glands from live beetles were removed and examined under a light microscope using semithin sections (∼1μm) and under a transmission electron microscope (TEM) using ultrathin sections (60 nm). The glands show an alveolar structure without a reservoir and the cells making up the gland are arranged in a typical acinus pattern. The existence of two types of cells with different electron densities, secretion canaliculi, numerous mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum in abundance were observed. These latter organelles are characteristic of cells which synthetize non-proteinaceous substances and are thus, likely candidates for the producion of rhynchophorol.

Effects of glucose infusion on the endocrine, metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses to halothane anaesthesia of ponies

Glucose was infused intravenously into six ponies during halothane anaesthesia, to evaluate its effect on their endocrine response to anaesthesia. The ponies were premedicated with acepromazine, and anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with halothane in oxygen for two hours. Glucose was infused to maintain the plasma glucose concentration above 20 mmol/litre. Anaesthesia was associated with hypothermia, a decrease in haematocrit, hypotension, hyperoxaemia, respiratory acidosis and an increase in the plasma concentrations of lactate and arginine vasopressin. The concentration of β-endorphin in plasma increased transiently after 20 minutes but there were no changes in concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, dynorphin, cortisol or catecholamines. These data suggest that the glucose infusion attenuated the normal adrenal response of ponies to halothane anaesthesia.

Alterations induced by juvenile hormone in glandular cells of the Apis mellifera venom gland I - Application on the larvae (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Histological analyses were made in order to evaluate the effects of the topic application of a synthetic juvenile hormone (JH-III Sigma) on the development of the venom glands in workers of Apis mellifera. Three experimental groups were used: the first received 1 μl of a dilution of the juvenile hormone in hexane (2μg/μl); the second group received 1 μl of hexane; and the third group, the control, did not receive any kind of treatment. The application was made on larvae at the beginning of the fifth instar and the glands were collected at different developmental stages. The results showed that the application of the diluted hormone, as well as the hexane alone, accelerated gland development in relation to the control group at all developmental stages studied. These data suggest that the juvenile hormone acts on the development of the venom gland; nevertheless, this action could be amplified by the effect of the solvent used in the present work, as well as in other studies concerning this matter.

Chemical analysis of different larval instars and tissues of Pachycondyla (=Neoponera) villosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae)

Chemical analyses of complete larvae of the first to third instar and cuticle, fat body and salivary glands extracts of fourth instar larvae using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, were performed upon Pachycondyla villosa. The results revealed that P. villosa larvae do not produce a pheromone, as only fatty acids and n-alkanes were detected. After quantifying the identified compounds, it was determined that the fat body is the main place of storage and/or production of the cuticular hydrocarbons. It was also observed that the absolute quantity of cuticular hydrocarbons increases progressively during larval development. Inferences about the transport behavior of matured larvae to the pupation place and the colony odor are discussed.

Enzymatic activity of hypopharyngeal gland extracts from workers of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apinae)

This research presents a comparative study of enzymatic activity of the hypopharyngeal gland extracts from workers of Apis mellifera in three physiologic stages: newly emerged, nurse and forager workers, with the objective of contributing to the comprehension of the gland function. In order to determinate the enzymes present in the extracts, the Api Zym kit (Bio Mérieux) was used to test the activity of 19 different enzymes. The enzymes found in larger amounts only in the hypopharyngeal glands from certain individuals were the following: in newly emerged workers, the N-acetyl-down double arrow sign-glucosaminidase that may be digesting the chitin of some food ingested by the bee; in forager workers, the acid phosphatase that is likely acting in authophagic processes, the a-glucosidase, in the processing of nectar into honey, and the down double arrow sign-glucosidases, in the pollen digestion.

Enzymes in the hypopharyngeal gland extracts from workers of Scaptotrigona postica (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Meliponini) related to food storing in the colony

This study reports on research of enzymes produced by the hypopharyngeal glands, which are related to food storing in the colony, from gland extracts from nurse and forager workers of S. postica. Only the presence of the saccharase was detected in the extracts from the glands of forager workers. The results were compared to the enzymatic content of similar extracts of A. mellifera taking into account the behavioral differences among the two species.

Histological, histochemical and morphometric study of female corpora allata of Pachycondyla striata ants (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae)

In this study we utilized both histological/histochemical tests and morphometric/statistical tests to observe developmental differences in the corpora allata in Pachycondyla striata workers and queens ants. The general structure of corpora allata was similar between workers and queens. The differences found among the volumes was not statistically significant when the probability value was set at 5%. Although the queen corpora allata volume has been observed smaller than those of the worker and the right gland volume has been smaller than those of the left one. Differences also were observed histologically, the worker corpora allata cells showed homogeneous cytoplasm and sparse nuclear chromatin in well defined nuclei. It was the reverse in the queens, in which the corpora allata cells showed some secretory cytoplasmic vesicles and nuclei with a different morphology, i. e., from extremely large with sparse chromatin to small with condensed chromatin. Employing histochemical tests verified that the corpora allata in both castes contained large amounts of RNA and protein in the cytoplasm of their cells and an absence of polysaccharides. Differences in the lipid amounts in worker's glands were found, whereas, in the queens' corpora allata lipids always occur.