Studies on the Indian sand lobster Thenus orientalis (Lund): mucopolysaccharides of the tegumental glands.

The tegumental glands are imbedded in the connective tissue below the epithelium of oesophagus. Each gland is made up of cells which are conical in shape with their narrow ends directed towards the lumen of the gland. In the centre of each gland there is a cavity which communicates with intracellular duct. Similar glands have been found in the hind-gut region also. These glands secrete both acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides and to some extent glycoproteins. The glands are charged mostly with the task of secreting weakly acidic mucopolysaccharides and neutral mucopolysaccharides which are confined to the apices and central cavity of the gland. The acidic nature is partly due to sialic acid and partly due to hyaluronic acid. These weak acids do not seem to play any role in digestion but lubricate the lumen of the oesophagus for easy passage of food and keep the lining of the oesophagus slimy. In the hind-gut they help in binding the faecal matter into pellets.     

Cytochemical observations of hemocytes in decapod brachyuran crustacea (author's transl)]

Hemocytes from two species of crabs, Eriocheir sinensis and Carcinus maenas, have been submitted to different cytochemical reactions in order to bring out the nature of granules' content, either by specific coloration or be enzymatic digestion. Light as well as electron microscopy has been used. The granules appeared to be made essentially of basic proteins, rich in arginin and disulfide bridges but poor in tyrosin. These proteins are linked with nonglycogenic carbohydrates. Glycogen deposits of varied size are restricted to the cytoplasm in all the different cell-types but have never been detected inside the granules themselves. Lipids are poorly represented. The bulk of the granule material is made of neutral mucopolysaccharides although minute amounts of acid mucosubstances could be found in some instances.     

Histochemical observations on the ovaries of some Indian bats

Ovarian follicles of the three species of bats, Pteropus giganteus giganteus, Taphozous longimanus and Megaderma lyra lyra were studied with regard to the distribution and nature of mucopolysaccharides. Oocyte contained only glycogen. Zona pellucida showed the presence of glycogen, neutral mucosubstances, sialo- and sulfomucins. Follicle cells showed the presence of glycogen and sialic acid except in megaderma lyra lyra where the follicle cells of the Graafian follicle showed the presence of sulfomucins in addition to these mucosubstances Cumulus cells contained glycogen., sulfomucin, sialomucins and hyaluronic acid. Liquor follicular showed the presence of sulfomucins, sialomucins and hyaluronic acid. Theca cells contained glycogen and sialic acid. The luteal cells contained glycogen only.     

Mucosubstance histochemistry of Brunner's glands, pyloric glands and duodenal goblet cells in the ferret

The mucosubstance of Brunner's glands, pyloric glands and duodenal goblet cells were studied using the various histochemical methods. The secretions of both Brunner's and pyloric glands were similar in their histochemical reactions. They contained neutral mucosubstances as in these glands in man. The duodenal goblet cells showed variations in their histochemical characters. (i) The secretions of most of the deep cells and the majority of superficial cells contained sialidase-labile and sialidase-resistant sialomucins. (ii) There were a few superficial and occasional deep cells, the secretions of which contained sulphated mucosubstances. (iii) There were some goblet cells, more in the villi than in the crypts, the secretions of which contained a mixture of sialomucins and a sulphated mucin. The sialomucin was mostly sialidase-labile and partly sialidase-resistant.     

Histochemistry of mucosubstances in the mantle of fresh water mussel, Parreysia corrugata var. nagpoorensis (Lea) II. Mucosubstances of the middle marginal fold.

The results of the various histochemical reactions on mucosubstances indicate that in the middle fold of the mantle edge two types of mucus cells exist, one producing sulphomucins and the other neutral mucosubstances. The cells secreting neutral mucosubstances are few in number. The sulphated mucus is strongly alcianophilic. The alcianophilia persists when the tissues are stained with alcian blue in concentration up to 0-5 M magnesium chloride. Testicular hyaluronidase has no effect on the staining pattern of the mucus.     

The histochemistry of the avian parathyroid and ultimobranchial glands. I. Carbohydrates and proteins

Synopsis The non-enzyme histochemistry of the closely related parathyroid and ultimobranchial glands of the domestic fowl has been studied.The parathyroid cells and the ultimobranchial C cells gave only weakly positive reactions in tests for specific amino-acid residues. The rather stronger reactions found in the C cells were probably related to their content of polypeptide secretory granules. Carbohydrate and lipid stains also gave only negative or weakly positive reactions although the parathyroid cells did contain some free lipid.The lining cells of the ultimobranchial vesicles may be either actively secreting or inactive and cystic. Active cells contain large numbers of granules that are composed of large amounts of sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides, moderate amounts of mucoproteins and small amounts of neutral mucopolysaccharides and glycogen. Both the granular and colloidal secretions of these cells appeared to be identical in composition to the intracellular granules. The vesicular lining cells and their secretions showed strong but variable reactions for sulphydryl, disulphide and amino groups.The intermediate cell strands, which connect the ultimobranchial parathyroid foci with the vesicles, showed a range of reactions intermediate between those exhibited by parathyroid and vesicular cells.The results are discussed in relation to the structure and function of the various cell types.     

The gallbladder of the Capivara Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris (Mammalia: Rodentia)

The authors studied morphological and histochemically the mucopolysaccharides and proteins in the gallbladder tubular glands and epithelial cells of the capivara Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris. Based on the results the authors concluded: 1. the gallbladder single columnar epithelium consists of secretory, migrating, and goblet cells; 2. in the lamina propria are single coiled tubular glands; 3. goblet and tubular gland cells show neutral and sulphated mucopolysaccharides and sialic acid; 4. columnar cells show neutral mucopolysaccharides and protein radicals; 5. migrating cells show only protein radicals.     

青海高原二种双腔吸虫尾蚴腺体组织化学的比较观察

本文报道应用组织化学反应方法观察了青海高原中华双腔吸虫尾蚴及暂称为“B”型双腔尾蚴(可能是枝双腔尾蚴)二种单细胞腺体的组化成分及其生理功能。大单细胞腺体12—13对,内含丰富的碳水化合物——蛋白质复合物象粘蛋白之类物质,及酸性粘多糖。小单细胞腺3对,含结合氨基的蛋白质及甲性糖蛋白。二种双腔吸虫在贝类宿主体内子胞蚴及尾蚴组化威分很相似但从尾蚴粘液腺的结构可以区分二虫种。中华双腔吸虫粘球内包绕在尾蚴体外的粘液含丰富的粘蛋白。双腔吸虫幼虫期组化成分与阔盘吸虫相应的幼虫期进行了比较。     

Morphological and Histochemical Study of Cephalic Glands of Bothrops jararaca (Ophidia,Viperidae)

Morphological and histochemical studies of the cell types in the cephalic glands of Bothrops jararaca have been performed. It is concluded: 1) mucous cells are found in the salivary labial, accessory glands; mucous-serous cells are found in the salivary labial, accessory and Harderian glands; serous-mucous cells are found only in the venom gland; 2) neutral mucosubstances and protein were found in the salivary labial, venom, accessory and Harderian glands; 3) hyaluronic acid was detected in the Harderian gland; 4) of the to sulfated acid mucosubstances, only chondroitin sulfate B was detected in the salivary labial and accessory glands; 5) sialic acid was detected in the salivary labial, accessory and Harderian glands.     

Mucosubstance histochemistry of Brunner's glands,pyloric glands and duodenal goblet cells in the ferret

Summary The mucosubstance of Brunner's glands, pyloric glands and duodenal goblet cells were studied using the various histochemical methods.The secretions of both Brunner's and pyloric glands were similar in their histochemical reactions. They contained neutral mucosubstances as in these glands in man.The duodenal goblet cells showed variations in their histochemical characters. (i) The secretions of most of the deep cells and the majority of superficial cells contained sialidase-labile and sialidase-resistant sialomucins. (ii) There were a few superficial and occasional deep cells, the secretions of which contained sulphated mucosubstances. (iii) There were some goblet cells, more in the villi than in the crypts, the secretions of which contained a mixture of sialomycins and a sulphated mucin. The sialomucin was mostly sialidase-labile and partly sialidase-resistant.     

Histochemical reactions of gastrointestinal mucosubstances with orcein, high iron diamine and Alcian blue after prior oxidation of tissue sections.

The histochemical orcein reaction (orc) for mucosubstances in tissue samples from the human gastrointestinal tract was compared with PAS, high iron diamine (HID) and Alcian blue reactions at pH 1.0 or 2.5 (AB 1 and AB 2.5). Orc, HID and AB 1 reactions were performed also with prior oxidation of the tissue sections with potassium permanganate or performic acid (ox-orc, ox-HID and ox-AB reactions, respectively). Orc reaction stained mucosubstances similarly to HID and AB 1; only the brush border and goblet cells in the colon were stained. The reactions of the mucosubstances obtained with ox-orc differed from those with PAS, HID, AB 1 or AB 2.5 but were similar to those with ox-HID or ox-AB; the mucosubstances in the brush border and the goblet cells in the colon and small bowel and in the foveolar epithelium of the stomach were strongly stained. Pyloric and cardiac glands were stained faintly with ox-orc but not with ox-HID or ox-AB. Brunner's glands were negative with ox-orc, ox-HID and ox-AB reactions. It was assumed that the orc reaction stains, like HID or AB 1, sulphate groups in epithelial mucosubstances, and that sulphonic acid residues, resulting from oxidation of disulphide groups in the protein core of mucus glycoproteins, are responsible for the ox-orc as well as for the ox-HID and ox-AB reactions.     

Histology and histochemistry of the parotid and the principal and accessory submandibular glands of the little brown bat

The parotid and the principal and accessory submandibular glands of the little brown bat. Myotis lucifugus (Vespertilionidae), were examined using light microscopy and staining methods for mucosubstances. The parotid gland is a compound tubuloacinar seromucous gland. Parotid gland secretory cells contain both neutral and nonsulfated acidic mucosubstances. The principal and accessory submandibular glands are compound tubuloacinar mucus-secreting glands. They contain somewhat atypical mucus-secreting demilunar cells that often appear to be interspersed between mucous tubule cells. The mucous tubule cells in both the principal and accessory submandibular glands contain sulfonmucins. Demilunar cells of the principal submandibular gland contain moderate amounts of nonsulfated acidic mucosubstances, but the corresponding cells of the accessory submandibular gland contain considerable neutral mucosubstance with very little acid mucosubstance. Intercalated ducts composed of cuboidal or low columnar epithelial cells are present in all three glands. Striated ducts in all glands are composed of columnar cells whose apices bulge into the ductal lumina. Excretory ducts are composed of simple columnar epithelium, with occasional basal cells that suggest a possible pseudostratified nature. The cells of the excretory ducts also have bulging apices. All duct types contain apical cytoplasmic secretory material that is a periodic acid-Schiff positive, neutral mucosubstance. Ductal apical secretory material is more evident in intercalated and striated ducts than in excretory ducts.     

The cephalic glands of Brazilian reptilia and amphibia. IV. Histology of labial, premaxillary, and Duvernoy's glands in the colubrid snake Oxyrhopus trigeminus

A study of the morphology of the salivary glands of the colubrid snake Oxyrhopus trigeminus showed the following: The acini of supralabial, infralabial, and premaxillary glands are formed by mucous and mucoserous cells; the tubules of Duvernoy's gland are formed by seromucous cells; and mucous cells produce neutral and acid mucosubstances, mucoserous cells secrete neutral and acid mucosubstances and protein, and seromucous cells have neutral mucosubstance and protein secretions.     

Histochemical studies of mucosubstances in the epidermis of a nonscaly teleost Mystus (Mystus) vittatus Bl. (Pisces-Bagridae)

The epidermis of Mystus (Mystus) vittatus contains two well differentiated mucous cells which secrete different mucosubstances. The goblet cells contain periodate reactive neutral mucosubstances, glycogen, testicular hyaluronidase resistant sulphated mucosubstances, and sialic acid rich glycoproteins. The clavate cells contain small amounts of neutral and sulphated mucosubstances and no glycoproteins. The difference in the histochemical nature of the two types of mucous cells is discussed in relation to their physiological activities.     

Individual variability of pathological parameters in chemically induced rat colon tumors.

The development of tumorigenic conditions in the carcinogen-exposed rat colon was studied using selected morphological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and biochemical methods of analysis. Rats were treated with two carcinogens: 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine alone or with deoxycholic acid as a tumor promoter. It was found that 3 months after treatment of animals with the carcinogens the following changes were developed in colonic tissue: infiltration of lymphocytes in the mucous membrane, high increase in mitotic index among epithelial cells, negative reactions of colonic cells for neutral mucopolysaccharides and sulfomucins and positive reactions to carboxyl groups, nonsulfated acid mucosubstances and tissue polypeptide antigens. An increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase in colonic tissue was developed within the same time period and has been seen only in those tissues which were characterized by the development of precancerous conditions. Individual variations were observed in the manifestation of the studied parameters in rat neoplastic colonic tissues. It is suggested that these differences reflect an individual sensitivity of animals to carcinogens and the magnitude of the dysplastic processes induced in the colon.     

The histochemistry of the clitellum of Tubifex tubifex (annelida: oligochaeta)

The histochemistry of the clitellar glands of Tubiflex tubiflex is reported, together with the ultrastructure of mature secretion units. The distribution and ultrastructure of mucous and granule cells are consistent with published accounts of tubificid citella, thus indicating an absence of intrageneric variation. Mucous cells contain homogenous electron lucent globules which are rich in neutral and acidic mucopolysaccharides and are non-reactive with techniques designed to reveal protein. Type I cells possess structured granules composed of tyrosine-containing basic protein and carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharides. The granules of type II cells are heterogenous and contain several 0.3--0.7 micrometer inclusions of acidic protein with identifiable tyrosine, tryptophan and cystine. The inclusions occur within a matrix composed of neutral mucopolysaccharides and carboxymucin. Type III cell granules possess 0.2--0.5 micrometer inclusions within an electron dense matrix and are rich in neutral and carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharides and basic protein containing tyrosine, tryptophane and cystine. Clitelar carboxymucins are characterized by their stability to beta-glucoronidase, hyaluronidase, neurominidase and acid hydrolysis. A pyridine-extractable lipid moiety within the clitellar secretions was not detected. The results are discussed in relation to cell function during cocoon deposition and, comparatively, with those documented for other oligochaete families.     

Morphological phenotypes and functional capabilities of submandibular parenchymal cells of the ferret investigated by protein, mucosubstance and enzyme histochemistry

Submandibular glands obtained post-mortem from mature ferrets of both sexes were examined with the use of light microscopical histochemical methods for proteins, mucosubstances and enzymes associated with cell functions or organelles. Demilunar cells showed carboxylated mucosubstances that were mainly non-sulphated, and diffuse activity for peroxidase, E600-sensitive esterase and acid phosphatase. Thiol groups were also detected in these cells. Central acinar cells showed sulphated mucosubstances, disulphides and reticular staining for thiamine pyrophosphatase. Intercalary ducts showed diffuse activity for NADH and NAD(P)H dehydrogenases. Striated ducts contained protein, tryptophan, disulphides, neutral mucosubstances and E600-sensitive esterase periluminally. Basally, the striated ductal cells showed variable activity for peroxidase, cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase. Basolateral plasma membranes of these cells exhibited ouabain-sensitive Na,K-ATPase activity. The collecting ducts were characterized by variable periluminal staining for acid phosphatase, -glucuronidase, acid -galactosidase and E600-resistant esterase. The results suggest that the histological appearances of the acini of the submandibular gland of the ferret are dependent on the synthesis of secretory acid glycoproteins, that the striated ducts are involved with the secretion of tryptophan-rich product comprising neutral glycoproteins and showing esterase activity and with marked transport of ions and that the collecting ducts are involved with absorption.     

Ultrastructural differentiation of glandular stomach (proventriculus) in chick embryo

Cytochemical characterization of mucosubstances of chick glanular stomach (proventriculus) changes from 15 days of development to postnatal and adult stages was studied. To corroborate these data cytochemical, ultrastructural and ultracytochemical study of chick embryo proventriculus from 7 to 20 days of development was performed. At the 7th day several layers of undifferentiated cells formed an epithelium which covered the walls of the glandular stomach. Mocosubstances were not found. Between the 9th and 5th day a single layer of cylindrical cells was encountered forming invaginations which originated deep glands. Three types of cells were separated from the above mentioned layer, dark, clear and undifferentiated. The dark cells had organelles which are involved in protein synthesis and the clear ones were rich in mitochondria. Argentaffine cells appeared at 15th day instead mucosubstances formed a thin coat on the epithelium at 9th day which increased at the end of development in the apical cytoplasm and gland cells. These observations demonstrate that proventriculus of chick embryo has ultrastructurally differentiated cells involved with enzymatic and hydrochloric acid secretion after the 9th day. These progressive events are correlated with the digestion process of yolk during embryogenesis. At the end of development the proventriculus has completely organized the glandular layer.     

The fine structure of the stomach mucosa of the llama (Llama guanacoe)

Summary The epithelium of the fundic region mucosa of the hind stomach in the Llama guanacoe has been studied using morphological and histochemical methods. Morphology suggests that solute and water absorption may occur in the epithelium of the surface and of the foveolae, although this absorption can not be estimated because of the extensive secretion of the gastric glands. The same cells of the surface and foveolar epithelium show numerous secretory granules. The glands reveal neck cells, chief cells, a large number of oxyntic cells, four types of endocrine cells (A-like, ECL, D and EC), brush cells and wandering cells. PAS and Alcian blue reactions for light microscopy suggest a secretion of neutral and acidic mucosubstances in the surface and foveolar epithelium, of neutral mucosubstances only in the neck cells. Periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide silver proteinate (PA-TCH-SP) reaction for electron microscopy confirms the presence of neutral mucosubstances within the secretory granules of the surface, foveolar and neck epithelial cells. In all these cells, the reaction product is also evident within sacculi and vesicles of the maturing surface of the Golgi apparatus. A positive PA-TCH-SP reaction also occurs on the membrane (and not on the contents) of the Golgi apparatus (maturing surface) and of the secretory granules of the chief cells as well as on the membrane of the Golgi apparatus and of apical vesicles and tubules of the oxyntic cells. In addition, silver granules slightly enhance the electron density of the contents of the secretory granules in the endocrine cells. Morphological and histochemical findings are discussed and compared with results described by others for monogastric mammals.     

Mucosubstances in the human skeletal muscles.

With histomchemical, and electronmicroscopic-histochemical methods two types of human skeletal muscle fibres were established. The first type of muscle fibres does not contain acidic mucosubstances. The staining reactions and cellulase digestion indicate that, the neutral polysaccharides are cellulose-like substances. The second type of fibres contains only acidic mucosubstances, hyaluronic acid and chondroitine sulphate. The author suggests that the mucosubstances have joint function. These polysaccharides contributed to the jointing both of myofibrils and sarcomers. The polysaccharides can be exhibited in the joint points of contractile elements. In mechanical injury this point became disintegrated.