Testosterone Promotes an Anabolic Increase in the Rat Female Prostate (Skene's Paraurethral Gland) Which Acquires a Male Ventral Prostate Phenotype

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aging effects on the mongolian gerbil female prostate (Skene's paraurethral glands): Structural, ultrastructural, quantitative, and hormonal evaluations

Different from the classic view, the prostate is not a gland exclusive to the male, also being an organ of the female genital system presenting morphofunctional similarity between human and rodent. Thus structural, ultrastructural, morphometric-stereological features of the female prostate (Skene's paraurethral gland) and steroid serological levels were evaluated during young, adult, and senile ages in the Mongolian gerbil. The morphofunctional precocity of the female gland in comparison with the male gland occurring in young gland is probably associated with the female circulating steroid levels. The hormonal imbalance in senesce coincides with its susceptibility to histopathological lesions, such as epithelial hypertrophy, metaplasia, and intraepithelial neoplasia. Differently than that of males, the aging degeneration of the female gland involves the accumulation of lipofuscin granules. However, the alterations in senile prostate did not damage its functionality. These analyses reinforce the use of this experimental model for the comprehension of glandular morphofunctional aspects with special attention to senescence. Thus, the appreciation of this organ becomes relevant to avoid future discomfort to women's health.

Structure, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the male reproductive accessory glands in the neotropical flat-faced fruit-eating bat Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Chiroptera, the second largest mammalian order, presents different reproductive strategies and unique reproductive features. However, there are few reports regarding male reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) in Chiroptera. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterise the RAGs of the exclusively neotropical bat Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) macroscopically, microscopically and ultrastructurally. The RAGs were composed of a prostatic complex with two regions (ventral and dorsal) and paraurethral and bulbourethral glands, but no seminal vesicles. The ventral region had an undefined epithelium, with secretory and basal cells, and its secretions were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive. The dorsal region received both deferens ducts, had a columnar pseudostratified epithelium with secretory and basal cells. There were two types of secretions from the dorsal region: one that was basophilic and another that was mixed PAS positive and PAS negative. The paraurethral glands were dispersed in the connective tissue of the urethra, whereas the bulbourethral glands were located in the penile root. Histological and ultrastructural data confirmed the prostatic nature of the ventral and dorsal regions and the holocrine nature of the ventral region, with the latter finding never having been described previously for the prostate gland. Our findings demonstrate the wide discrepancy of RAGs between A. planirostris and other mammals in terms of their composition, structure and morphology. © CSIRO 2013.

Comparative analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of bat species from the five Brazilian subfamilies of the family Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparative analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of bat species from the five brazilian subfamilies of the family phyllostomidae (Chiroptera)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Female paraurethral prostate gland in Bitches

Even though the presence of the female prostate has been reported in many species, including humans, bats and several rodents, it has many anatomical and histological variations. There is still plentiful discussion on the biological function of this organ. Many authors state that paraurethral ducts and glands are functional and homologous to the male prostate. The use of experimental models and a better knowledge of the female prostate gland in other species, can be useful to veterinary medicine as well as human medicine. Therefore the aim of this study is to check for the presence of this gland in female dogs of various breeds and age. For that purpose 25 urethras, from the bladder to the vulva, were collected, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, routinely processed and sectioned into 4 slides of 4 µm, each with 40 µm gap between each set of 4 slides, using an automatic microtome and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosine (HE). The HE sections were evaluated for the presence of prostatic gland in the sample. Unstained tissue sections cut from paraffin blocks were marked with a polyclonal anti-PSA primary antibody. The prevalence of the gland was 32% (8/25). The structure of the paraurethral PSA-positive gland was acinar, organized in buds, with secretory epithelium varying from cubic to columnar; eccentric nuclei, with lose chromatin and a layer of basal cells, very similar to the male prostate were observed. In view of these characteristics, for the first time in the literature, was demonstrate that those glands. may be considered as female prostate in dogs, as they are in other vertebrates

Hormonal Oscillations During the Estrous Cycle Influence the Morphophysiology of the Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) Female Prostate (Skene Paraurethral Glands)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Disorders related with ageing in the gerbil female prostate (Skene's paraurethral glands)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural and ultrastructural characteristics of interrenal gland and chromaffin cell of matrinxa, Brycon cephalus Gunther 1869 (Teleostei-Characidae)

This work presents the structure and ultrastructure of the interrenal gland and chromaffin cells, as well as the morphology of the head kidney of Brycon cephalus, the head kidney is composed of fused bilateral lobes located anterior to the swim bladder and ventrolateral to the spinal column, the parenchyma revealed lympho-haematopoietic tissue, melano-macrophage centres, interrenal gland and chromaffin cells. The interrenal gland consisted of cords or strands of cells grouped around the posterior cardinal vein and their branches. Chromaffin cells are found in small groups, closely associated with the interrenal gland and/or under the endothelium of the posterior cardinal vein. So far, the ultrastructural analysis has revealed only one interrenal cell type which contained abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous mitochondria with tubulo-vesicular cristae, characteristic of steroid-producing cells. Two types of chromaffin cells were observed. The first type was characterized by the presence of vesicles with round, strongly electron-dense granules, which were eccentrically located, Such cells were interpreted as noradrenaline cells, Meanwhile, cells which contained smaller vesicles and electron-lucent granules, with a small halo separating the granule from the vesicular limiting membrane, were identified as adrenaline cells.

Third eyelid gland protrusion in dogs: an experimental model proposal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

TLR4 and CD14 receptors expressed in rat pineal gland trigger NFKB pathway

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sebaceous metaplasia in a canine mammary gland non-infiltrative carcinoma with myoepithelial component

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Absence of DNA damage in multiple organs (blood, liver, kidney, thyroid gland and urinary bladder) after acute fluoride exposure in rats

Fluoride has been widely used in dentistry as a caries prophylactic agent. However, there has been some speculation that excess fluoride could cause an impact on genome integrity. In the current study, the potential DNA damage associated with exposure to fluoride was assessed in cells of blood, liver, kidney, thyroid gland and urinary bladder by the single cell gel (comet) assay. Male Wistar rats aging 75 days were distributed into seven groups: Groups 1 (control), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 received 0 (deionized water), 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mgF/Kg body weight from sodium fluoride (NaF), respectively, by gastrogavage. These groups were killed at 2 h after the administration of the fluoride doses. The level of DNA strand breaks did not increase in all organs evaluated and at all doses of NaF tested, as depicted by the mean tail moment. Taken together, our results suggest that oral exposure to NaF did not result in systemic genotoxic effect in multiple organs related to fluoride toxicity. Since DNA damage is an important step in events leading to carcinogenesis, this study represents a relevant contribution to the correct evaluation of the potential health risk associated with chemical exposure.

Clinical presentation and salivary gland histopathology of paediatric primary Sjogren's syndrome

ObjectiveExplore the presentation, diagnostic criteria and exocrine gland histopathology of paediatric primary Sjogren's syndrome (PPSjS).MethodsA case series of 8 children is reported and American-European Consensus Group (AECG-2002) criteria were examined, as well as minor labial salivary and lachrymal gland biopsies, which were scored by a pathologist blinded to outcome. For all cases, connective tissue diseases and parotid-related infectious disease were excluded.ResultsAge at onset varied from 5-13 years old; 6 were females, all followed from diagnosis up to the last visit (1-10 years). The main features at presentation were recurrent tender parotid swelling and sialectasis imaging, with decreased salivary function assessed by Tc-99 scintigraphy. Mild sicca symptoms were observed in 4/8 cases. Systemic features, including fatigue, myalgia, arthritis, tenosynovitis, joint contractures, transient Raynaud's and high ESR, were recorded at onset. Autoantibody profile was unremarkable for diagnosis, while lymphocytic infiltration of labial salivary glands and sialectasis were observed in all biopsies (8/8). In lachrymal glands, massive lymphocytic infiltration and lymphocytic gastritis were observed during complementary assessment. Flares were treated with low dose steroids and long-term use of hydroxychloroquine (5/8), although only 318 fulfilled AECG-2002 diagnostic criteria, throughout the disease course.ConclusionPPSjS is rare, slowly progressive and its early presentation is variable. Standardised diagnostic algorithms should include recurrent parotid swelling and early diagnosis should rely mostly on salivary and lachrymal gland histopathology in this age group.

Adenocarcinoma of the parotid salivary gland in a cow

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)