Histological and carbohydrate histochemical studies of the nasal mucosa of sheep in Saudi Arabia with special reference to its glandular tissue

The histology and carbohydrate histochemistry of the nasal mucosa with attention to glandular tissue had been studied in 7 heads of sheep. Tissues were taken from vestibular region, septum at level of the alar fold, rostral portion of nasal conchae, caudal portion of nasal conchae, middle portion of septum and ethmoidal conchae region. Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium was observed covering the vestibular region. The propria-submucosa of the nasal vestibule was richly permeated with glands having affinity for PAS and non-alcianophilic. The post-vestibular portion of the nasal cavity was lined by transitional epithelium and caudal to it, stratified columnar nonciliated epithelium was noticed. The respiratory epithelium covered the caudal half of the nasal conchae and the major portion of the septum as well as the recesses of the ethmoidal conchae. The glands associated with the respiratory mucosa were thick, coiled and tubular, containing both nonalcianophilic PAS positive and alcianophilic PAS positive cells. The olfactory mucosa covered the ethmoidal conchae and showed predominant serous glands. The results were discussed with that given for other mammals and in regard to the respiratory functions of the nasal mucosa.     

Histomorphological structure of the palate and histochemical profiles of the salivary palatine glands in the Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar,Gray 1830)

Morphology of the palatine mucosa and its secretion was described in Chukar partridges, by gross morphology and histochemistry techniques. For this purpose, 10 healthy adults (five male and five female) were sacrificed. After sacrifice, the palatine tissues were extirpated and fixed in 10% formol‐alcohol for 18 h and were embedded longitudinally and transversally in paraffin. The 5‐μm sections were employed histological and histochemical staining techniques. The lateral rims of the caudal part of the choanal cleft were bordered by large conical papillae. In the periphery of the choanal and the infundibular cleft, small papillae were scattered across the palatine mucosa. The palate was lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which contained conical papillae of varying height. However, the folds of the keratinized stratified squamous epithelial layer covering the choanal and infundibular cleft were nonkeratinized. The rostral aspect of the choanal cleft contained simple branched tubulo‐alveolar glands of both mucous and sero‐mucous characteristic, whilst the caudal aspect included mucous simple branched tubular glands. Furthermore, it was ascertained that the secretion of the palatine glands contained glycoproteins, carboxylated proteoglycans, weakly and strongly sulphated mucins, sialic acid and hyaluronic acid, but lacked glycogen. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the histological structure of the mucosal epithelium and the supporting elements displayed similarity to those of other domestic avian species.     

扬子鳄鼻腔上皮光学显微镜及扫描电镜观察

本文通过光镜和扫描电镜研究了爬行动物扬子鳄鼻腔上皮的组织学。结果表明:其嗅觉上皮的组成细胞类型与两栖类、鸟类和哺乳类基本相似,但嗅细胞纤毛形状则有所不同;扬子鳄与两栖类、鸟类嗅纤毛相似,呈丝状,而哺乳类嗅觉纤毛则呈棍棒状;据外,扬子鳄鼻腔不同部位可发现不同类型嗅纤毛,鸟兽则无此现象,扬子鳄嗅觉上皮的分布仅局限于鼻腔中部前甲区和鼻甲区狭小范围,而兽类嗅觉上皮一般分布较广;扬子鳄呼吸上皮下未见兽类具有的混合型粘液腺,也未见兽类用以温暖空气的静脉丛,这和扬子鳄属外温动物而兽类为恒温动物密切相关。     

Histochemical and ultrastructural study of the digestive tract of the tortoise Testudo graeca (Testudines)

The digestive tract of the tortoise Testudo graeca (Testudines) was investigated by means of light and electron microscopy. The esophagus of T. graeca was lined by two types of epithelium: non-keratinized stratified squamous in the upper portion and stratified columnar in the lower. The lamina propria of the esophagus contained tubular or tubuloacinar glands. The mucosa of the stomach showed similar characteristics to those of other reptiles. The small intestine exhibited longitudinal folds lined by absorptive and goblet cells. The large intestine was lined by columnar mucous cells. Within the lamina propria of the large intestine, masses of 10–15 epithelial cells connecting with the surface epithelium by means of slender cytoplasmic processes were observed. A battery of six lectins (Con-A, PNA, WGA, DBA, SBA, and LTA) was used to identify the epithelial mucins. WGA and DBA reacted with all types of mucous cells throughout the alimentary canal. PNA was only unreactive in the intestine, LTA in the esophagus, and SBA in the large intestine. These results indicate a similar lectin-binding pattern throughout the gut of T. graeca.     

Human oesophageal submucosal glands. Their detection mucin, enzyme and secretory protein content

Human oesophageal submucosal glands may be regularly demonstrated by first exposing the oesophageal lumen to toluidine blue which reveals the duct ostia. Four types of cell were identified in the glands - mucous, subsidiary or serous, myoepithelial and oncocytes. The mucous cell contained neutral, sialated and sulphated mucins. The subsidiary cells held smaller amounts of neutral and sialated mucin, plus fucosyl residues. No lipids were detectable histochemically. ATP-ase and alkaline phosphatase were shown in the capillary endothelium. The duct epithelium showed some nonspecific esterase activity not sensitive to E 600. By immunoperoxidase techniques, the duct epithelium was shown to be rich in cytokeratin. The subsidiary cells contained lysozyme, CEA and pepsinogen. B lymphocytes composed most of the periductular lymphoid aggregates, although some T cells were found there and also intraepithelial and subepithelial in relation to the stratified squamous epithelium lining the oesophagus. Langerhans' cells were also demonstrated as intraepithelial by several techniques.     

Light and scanning electron microscopic study of the tongue in the estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis van Bénéden, 1864)

The importance of the tongue during feeding, and the limited information on the tongue of most aquatic mammals led us to investigate its morphological aspects in sexually immature and mature Sotalia guianensis. Six tongues were measured and photo-documented after their removal from the oral cavity. The samples were divided into rostral, middle, and caudal regions, and examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (S.E.M.). Sotalia guianensis tongue presented lateral grooves from the apex to the middle portion, while the anterolateral region presented marginal papillae. Histological characteristics revealed the presence of a keratinized stratified epithelium, salivary glands in the middle and caudal portions of the tongue, and filiform papillae in the caudal region. S.E.M. images revealed the presence of filiform papillae and ducts of salivary glands in the middle and caudal portions of the tongue. We can conclude that the characteristics found in this study may reflect an adaptation to changes in diet after weaning.     

Association of substance-P-immunoreactive nerves with the murine olfactory mucosa

Location and distribution of nerve fibers immunoreactive to substance P were studied in the mouse olfactory mucosa. A moderately dense plexus of fibers is present at the interface of the olfactory epithelium and the connective tissue of the lamina propria. In addition, many immunoreactive nerve fibers are noted in close association with Bowman's glands and blood vessels in the lamina propria. However, such fibers were not observed in olfactory epithelium proper nor in the fila olfactoria. Substance-P-immunoreactivity is almost totally abolished by treatment of animals with capsaicin, an agent known to deplete substance P from primary sensory neurons. It is suggested that the substance-P-immunoreactive fibers are of sensory origin, with their perikarya most likely located in the trigeminal ganglia. Functionally, they might influence local blood flow and/or the secretion of Bowman's glands.     

The microscopic anatomy of the oesophagus, stomach and intestine of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

An anatomical study of the digestive tract of the channel catfish revealed that the oesophageal mucosa was longitudinally folded and that secondary folds were occasionally located on the primary longitudinal folds. The infoldings were more numerous near the stomach. The stratified squamous epithelium covering the folds was made up of a basal layer, large mucous cells and simple squamous cells on the surface. The epithelium on the side of the folds consisted primarily of mucous secreting cells. Taste buds were observed between mucous cells on the apical portion of the oesophageal folds and were more prevalent in the cranial part of the oesophagus. The remaining layers of the oesophagus were: a lamina propria-submucosa, tunica muscularis and adventitia or serosa.
The J-shaped stomach had two regions: a large sac-shaped region containing gastric glands and a smaller, nonglandular pyloric region. The large rugae of the stomach became gradually smaller near the pylorus. There was a well developed pyloric sphincter. The mucosa included a simple columnar epithelium, a lamina propria and adventitia or serosa.
The intestine could be differentiated into a thick ascending segment, a descending segment, a thin convoluted segment and a thicker terminal segment, the rectum. Many mucosal folds containing branched villi characterized the ascending segment of the intestine. The descending and convoluted segments contained fewer folds with shorter and less-branching villi and were smaller in diameter and thinner walled. Descending and convoluted segments were also mildly convoluted and accounted for 80% of the total length of the intestine. An intestinal valve with a sphincter marked the beginning of the rectum. There was an approximately four-fold increase in the thickness of the tunica muscularis of the terminal segment of the intestine.     

异型一氧化氮合酶在爪蛙鼻粘膜中的分布

用还原型辅酶Ⅱ黄递酶组织化学和一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）免疫细胞化学技术研究了成年爪蛙（Ｘｅｎｏｐｕｓｌａｅｖｉｓ）鼻粘膜ＮＯＳ的阳性结构。嗅上皮中嗅感觉神经元和支持细胞,以及固有层中的神经束、血管和粘膜下腺均呈还原型辅酶Ⅱ黄递酶阳性染色。在嗅上皮中,未见Ⅰ型或Ⅱ型ＮＯＳ抗体免疫反应阳性结构,但鼻内侧窦和内侧窦口顶嗅上皮中的嗅感觉神经元见有Ⅲ型ＮＯＳ强免疫反应。在固有层中,Ⅰ型或Ⅲ型ＮＯＳ免疫反应性存在于神经束和血管中,未见于粘膜下腺的腺泡中。结果表明,不同异型的ＮＯＳ存在于爪蛙鼻粘膜中,提示一氧化氮可能参与爪蛙的化学感觉活动。     

The stomach of Oreochromis niloticus has three regions

The stomach of Oreochromis niloticus was divided into three distinct regions: initial, middle and terminal, corresponding roughly to the cardiac, fundic, and pyloric portions of the mammalian stomach. Grossly, the organ showed initial and terminal portions, the former connected to the distal part of the oesophagus and the latter to the proximal portion of the intestine. There was also a middle region, forming a large blind diverticulum communicating with the first two at their point of junction. The initial or cardiac region was shorter than the middle region but longer than the terminal one, and had a smooth surface devoid of gastric pits. The epithelium in this region was simple columnar devoid of goblet cells, with glandular regions in the lamina propria. The mucosa of the middle or fundic region had gastric pits lined by columnar epithelium, and simple tubular glands filled most of the lamina propria. The terminal or pyloric part of the stomach was very short and its mucosa was slightly folded and devoid of both gastric pits and mucous glandular cells. The lining epithelium of this portion of the stomach was simple columnar and a few goblet cells were seen at its junction with the first part of the intestine. The tunica muscularis of the stomach contained skeletal muscle in the initial and terminal regions, usually intermingled with smooth muscle fibres. Skeletal muscle fibres were also observed in the first portion of the small intestine, near the junction with the stomach.     

Regeneration of colonic mucosa in the rat

As part of a study of ulcer formation and healing, regeneration of colonic mucosa in rats was studied following placement of a surgical lesion. Alterations in mucosubstances and connective tissue were examined and their possible significance discussed. The sequence of events in healing was: (1) The mucosa adjacent to the lesion tipped into the lesioned area. The crypts in this mucosa became lined with cells which contained no mucus and had no striated borders. Later in the experimental period, these undifferentiated cells gave rise to cells containing carboxymucins. Cells containing sulfomucin, neutral mucin, or having striated borders arose from the carboxymucin cells. (2) An epithelial ledge of undifferentiated cells migrated onto a sulfated glycosaminoglycan, fibrous interface between necrotic and living tissue in the lesion. (3) Crypt formation began with the appearance of intraepithelial anlagen. (4) Crypts lengthened by a process of epithelial-connective tissue proliferation from the base of the crypt upwards. Following completion of connective tissue regeneration, crypts formed by invading the reestablished lamina propria. (5) The first mucous cells in the ledge contained carboxymucins. As crypt formation occurred, these cells gave rise to typical columnar absorptive cells, to cells containing sulfomucins, and to cells containing neutral mucins. (6) Lengthening of crypts ceased following the appearance of a sulfated acid glycosaminoglycan—collagenous layer deep in the submucosa.     

Trigeminal substance P-like immunoreactive fibres in the frog olfactory mucosa

The location and distribution of nerve fibres displaying substanceP (SP) immunoreactivity were studied in the frog olfactory mucosa.Many immunoreactive nerve fibres were noted in close associationwith Bowman's glands and blood vessels in the lamina propria.In addition, such fibres were also found beneath and withinthe olfactory epithelium proper. These fibres are clearly oftrigeminal origin since SP immunoreactivity was abolished aftersection of the trigeminal nerve. Functionally, they might influencelocal blood flow, secretion of Bowman's glands and/or activityof olfactory receptor cells.     

山羊悬雍垂组织学结构观察

应用常规石蜡切片,H.E和甲苯胺蓝染色技术,对健康山羊(Capra hircus)的悬雍垂组织结构进行观察与分析,并与人(Homo sapiens)悬雍垂的组织结构进行比较。结果表明,山羊悬雍垂主要由黏膜层和黏膜下层组成。其中,黏膜层由未角化复层鳞状上皮和固有层构成;黏膜下层含有大量的腺体、弹性软骨、骨骼肌纤维和脂肪细胞,骨骼肌和脂肪组织主要分布在悬雍垂后2/3处的口咽面。山羊与人悬雍垂组织结构的主要区别是山羊含有弹性软骨。     

Mucin histochemistry of the anal canal epithelium. Studies of normal anal mucosa and mucosa adjacent to carcinoma

Summary The epithelial lining of the anal canal is of colo-rectal type in the upper part and squamous in the lower part, while the middle zone is called the anal transitional zone (ATZ). This zone is characterized by an epithelium which bears a resemblance to that of the anal glands and shows little mucus secretion. The histochemical properties of the mucins in the epithelium of 39 anal canals, resected for ano-rectal adenocarcinoma, basaloid carcinoma, squamous carcinoma and malignant melanoma were investigated. The study reveals that (1) the mucin composition of the ATZ epithelium corresponds to that of the anal glands, being characterized by a mixture of sulpho- and sialomucins with scarcity or absence ofO-acylated sialic acids; and (2) cases with carcinomas located near the dentate line show changes in the mucin composition of the adjoining anal canal epithelium, regardless of tumour type. In colo-rectal type mucosa, these mucins consist of increasing amounts of sialomucins with a predominance ofN-acyl derivatives, and in the anal could be detected in the ATZ epithelium. It is concluded that rectal and anal glands in the anal canal are exposed to stimuli which alter the normal process of glycoprotein synthesis and secretion. The changes seem to be secondary to tumour growth and independent of the histological type of tumour.     

Distribution of epithelia in the nasal cavity of piglets

The epithelial distribution in the nasal cavity of piglets was studied by serial transverse sections. The epithelial distribution in the nasal cavity of healthy piglets varied according to the age of the animal. The transitional epithelium, which contained goblet cells but no ciliated cells, occupied a smaller proportion of the nasal cavity in the newborn piglets than in the 4-week-old piglets. The ciliated epithelium extended more rostrally in the newborn piglets and covered the non-mineralized rostral portion of the nasal ventral concha. At 28 days of age, the rostral cartilaginous concha is overlaid by the transitional epithelium, the respiratory epithelium covering the mineralized nasal ventral concha. The variations in the epithelial distribution according to age are discussed with regard to the greater susceptibility of newborn piglets to bacterial infection.     

白胸苦恶鸟消化管的组织学观察

采用石蜡切片技术对白胸苦恶鸟(Amaurornis phoenicurus)的消化道进行了组织学观察.结果表明,食管皱襞发达,黏膜上皮为复层扁平上皮,食管腺发达,颈段多于胸段,黏膜肌层为一层纵肌,厚约0.06 ～0.26 mm.肌层为一层厚约0.19～0.27mm的环肌.腺胃被覆单层柱状上皮,固有层内有单管腺和复管腺两种腺体,单管腺仅深约0.11 ～0.20 mm;复管腺厚约1.19～1.26 mm,占管壁的77.8％ ～80.4％.肌胃的类角质层发达,厚约0.16～0.24 mm.肌胃腺呈管状,与类角质层突起形成皱襞.肌层发达,由内环外纵两层平滑肌构成.肠绒毛无分支和中央乳糜管,十二指肠绒毛长而密集,空肠绒毛呈细长指状,直肠绒毛长且呈叶状.十二指肠与直肠肠绒毛内有大量致密淋巴小结,盲肠绒毛短,肠腺少.     

Intercellular spaces between macula densa cells: An ultrastructural study comparing high pressure perfusion fixation with in situ drip-fixation of rat kidney

Summary Polyclonal antibodies have been raised against purified bovine pyrazine-binding protein, a protein that binds the odorant 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine. These antibodies have been utilized in immunocytochemical experiments to localize the pyrazine-binding protein in bovine nasal mucosa. Tissue fragments, macroscopically identified as olfactory and respiratory mucosa, were fixed in Bouin's fluid and embedded in paraffin. Consecutive serial sections were processed for immunofluorescence studies and restained either with haematoxylin-eosin or with periodic acid Schiff-Alcian Blue. In both olfactory and respiratory mucosa, only seromucous tubulo-acinar glands were specifically labelled. These glands are located in the lamina propria underlying typical respiratory epithelium, even in those tissues that are macroscopically defined as olfactory mucosa.     

Posthatching Development of Vascularization,Arteriovenous Anastomoses and Seromucous Glands in the Avian Nasal Mucosa

The development of blood vessels and growth of different tissue compartments in the avian nasal mucosa were studied in chickens from hatching to 5 months of age. The vascularity of the rostral and middle nasal conchae increased about 4-fold, while there was a progressive decrease in the relative size of the epithelium and connective tissue compartments, during the maturation period. Arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) were present already at hatching and their density increased 3-fold during the second week of posthatching development. The seromucous glands form by a process of invagination of the epithelium, which occurs predominantly during the first week after hatching. The glands continue to grow in size and an increasing fraction of the cells becomes mucous-secreting. The observations are discussed in relation to the role of the nasal mucosa in temperature regulation and conditioning of the inhaled air.     

Morphology of the stomach of the tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

Rodrigues Sartori, S. S., Nogueira, K. O. P. C., Rocha, A. S. and Neves, C. A. 2011. Morphology of the stomach of the tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia (Squamata: Gekkonidae). —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92 : 179–186. Hemidactylus mabouia is a common species in Brazil, which facilitates its use in research in several areas and allows display it as a benchmark for studies with reptiles. To study the morphology of the stomach of H. mabouia, we carried out anatomical, histological and histochemical analysis. The stomach of H. mabouia is ‘J’ shaped and can be divided into oral fundic (OF), aboral fundic (AF) and pyloric regions. The surface epithelium is composed of mucosecretory cells (MC) containing neutral mucins. In the lamina propria of the OF region, are large ramified tubulo‐acinar glands, which become smaller, less ramified and more tubular towards the AF region, and are simple tubular and short in the pyloric region. The fundic glands contain differentiated neck and pit. The neck is composed of MC containing neutral mucins and the pit is made of oxyntopeptic cells (OC). The OC of the OF region contained many zymogen granules, while those of the AF region contained few zymogen granules and many mitochondria, which suggests the existence of a gradient of pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid secretion. Pyloric glands consisted of MC containing neutral mucins and both argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells.     

Histochemical and immunohistochemical adaptations on the gastroesophageal tube of the blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva Linnaeus, 1758)

Amazona aestiva Linnaeus, 1758 is known as the blue-fronted parrot. These animals are considered seed dispersion, contributing to ecological balance. Despite its ecological importance, A. aestiva is listed as an imminent danger of becoming extinct, as it is one of the most illegally traded native species in Brazil, besides losing its habitat due to deforestation and forest fires. The cranial oesophagus mucosa is lined with a non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, and the basal layer presents melanocyte accumulation. No mucous glands were observed in the lamina propria/submucosa. The ingluvium two different muscular layer patterns were observed, one internal and circular and one very thick, external and longitudinal. The proventriculum submucosa consists of polygonal proventricular glands and contents into a broad central duct lined with simple columnar epithelium Periodic acid-reactive Schiff positive (PAS+) and Alcian blue positive (AB+). The 5-HT cells are dispersed in the proventricular glands located at base and apex. The ventricle mucous layer contains numerous branched folds lined by a simple columnar epithelium. The epithelium was negative reaction for PAS and positive for AB only on the fold surfaces. The 5-HT cells were scarce and observed only at the base of the ventricular gland, as well as in the adjacent connective tissue.