SPASMOGENIC NONCHOLINERGIC ACTIVITY OF A DIGESTIVE GLAND HOMOGENATE OF THE AMPHIBIAN SNAIL POMACEA-LINEATA SPIX-1827

The digestive gland of Pomacea lineata, a prosobranch gastropod mollusc inhabiting both fresh water and land, does not contain cholinomimetic compounds as do the glands of species of Aplysia, marine opisthobranch gastropods, in which both acetylcholine and urocanylcholine are present. The only pharmacological action detected for the digestive gland of Pomacea was spasmogenic activity of a crude homogenate containing 0.1 g tissue equivalents on the snail's own esophagus bathed in 10 ml of a physiological solution prepared on the basis of the animal's hemolymph composition. The spamodic activity was not blocked by atropine, bromlysergic acid diethylamide or anthazoline.

The venom gland of queens of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae): morphology and secretory cycle

The venom gland of queens of Apis mellifera was examined through light and transmission electron microscopy and subjected to electrophoretic analyses. Virgin queens exhibited prismatic secretory cells containing large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum with dilated cisternae, open secretory spaces, numerous vacuoles and granules scattered in the cytoplasm, and spherical nuclei with numerous nucleoli. The secretion produced was non-refringent under polarized light and the electrophoretic analysis of glandular extracts revealed five main protein bands. In mated queens, the venom gland exhibited a high degree of degeneration. Its secretion was refringent under polarized light and one of the main bands was absent in the electrophoretic pattern obtained. The morphological aspects observed are in agreement with the function of this gland in queens, given that virgin queens use venom in battles for the dominance of the colony, a situation that occurs as soon as they emerge, while fertilized queens rarely use venom. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gene discovery in Boophilus microplus, the cattle tick - the transcriptomes of ovaries, salivary glands, and hemocytes

The quest for new control strategies for ticks can profit from high throughput genomics. In order to identify genes that are involved in oogenesis and development, in defense, and in hematophagy, the transcriptomes of ovaries, hemocytes, and salivary glands from rapidly ingurgitating females, and of salivary glands from males of Boophilus microplus were PCR amplified, and the expressed sequence tags (EST) of random clones were mass sequenced. So far, more than 1,344 EST have been generated for these tissues, with approximately 30% novelty, depending on the the tissue studied. To date approximately 760 nucleotide sequences from B. microplus are deposited in the NCBI database. Mass sequencing of partial cDNAs of parasite genes can build up this scant database and rapidly generate a large quantity of useful information about potential targets for immunobiological or chemical control.

Anatomical aspects of the lacrimal gland of the tufted capuchin (Cebus apella)

In the tufted capuchin (Cebus apella) the main lacrimal gland is composed of 2 distinct portions with an intraorbital and extraorbital localisation, interconnected by a bridge of glandular tissue which crosses the lateral orbital wall through the lateral orbital fissure located in the sphenozygomatic suture. The intraorbital lacrimal gland is flattened and extremely thin, with a variable outline. It lies on the upper and outer third of the globe of the eye, and the aponeurosis and the belly of the lateral rectus muscle, extending antero-posteriorly from the upper lateral angle of the orbit midway along the orbital cavity. The extraorbital lacrimal gland is compact, halfmoon-shaped, with 3 surfaces, 3 borders and 2 extremities. It lies in the temporal fossa between the temporalis muscle and the temporal surface of the zygomatic bone, fitting into a depression in this bone, and totally surrounded by adipose tissue. The secretory cells have a flocculent appearance and either low or high density. They possess a basal region containing the nucleus and rich in granular endoplasmic reticulum, and an apical region filled with secretory granules varying in size, form and density.

Effects of experimental diabetes on the structure and ultrastructure of the coagulating gland of C57BL/6J and NOD mice

Diabetes mellitus can lead to reproductive disorders that in turn result in weakened fertility brought about by morphofunctional changes in the testes and accessory sex glands. However, doubts persist concerning the basic biology of the secretory epithelial cells and the stroma of the coagulating gland of diabetic mice. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the histological and ultrastructural changes associated with stereology of the coagulating gland of mice with alloxan-induced diabetes, and of spontaneously diabetic mice. Sixteen mice of the C57BL/6J strain, and eight non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were used. The animals were divided into three groups: 1) control (C), 2) alloxan diabetic (AD), and 3) NOD. Thirty days after the detection of diabetic status in group 2, all of the animals were killed and then perfused with Karnovsky's solution through the left cardiac ventricle. The coagulating gland was then removed and processed for morphometric study by light microscopy and electron microscopy. The results showed thickening of the stroma, atrophy of secretory epithelial cells, and disorganization of the organelles involved in the secretory process in both NOD and alloxan-induced mice. Thus, it may be concluded that the coagulating gland suffered drastic morphological changes, and consequently impaired glandular function, in the presence of diabetes mellitus type I in both NOD and AD mice. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Morphology of the head and frontal gland in neotropical Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae)

The Nasutitermitinae species are the most diverse and derived of the Isoptera. The phylogeny of this subfamily has been a point of divergence. In an attempt to solve this problem, we propose the use of the morphological features of the head, frontal gland and its associated muscles as phylogenetic characters in some Nasutitermitinae genera. Results found about the head and frontal gland morphology are discussed and suggested to be used in future systematic studies of termites.

FRONTAL GLAND DEHISCENCE IN THE BRAZILIAN TERMITE SERRITERMES-SERRIFER (ISOPTERA, SERRITERMITIDAE)

The primary function of the soldier caste in the Isoptera is the defense of the termite society. The simplest defense is mechanical with oversized mandibles. Besides the mandibles, some termite soldiers use exocrine glands as a means of chemical defense. These glands produce substances which are toxic and/or repellent to termites enemies. Here we report the only case in the Neotropical fauna of dehiscence of the frontal gland in the soldier caste of the Brazilian termite, Serritermes serrifer (Bates).