Observations on aggregated lymphoid nodules in the cardiac glandular areas of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

Aggregated lymphoid nodules are an important part of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). They are mainly distributed in the ileum and appendix of animals and humans but their distribution in the cardiac glandular area has not been reported. A study of stomach histology in the Bactrian camel has revealed that the nodules are distributed as a band-like region along the ventral wall of the stomach neck, at the beginning of the cranial enlargement and on the lesser curvature. The mucous folds are thicker in these regions than where there are no aggregated lymphoid nodules. The nodules appeared similar to ileal aggregated lymphoid nodules found in other animals and consisted of typical polymorphological lymphatic nodules arranged in a single continuous row occupying the submucosa and forming mucosal folds together with the mucous membrane. The whole mucous membrane with cardiac glands, diffuse lymphatic tissue and solitary lymphoid nodules in the lamina propria were found to cover the aggregated lymphoid nodule regions, but some nodules with a typical corona extended into the lamina propria and were covered with follicle-associated epithelium devoid of cardiac glands. These findings indicate that the stomach of the Bactrian camel possesses not only a special structure of digestion but also has characteristic immunological morphology.     

Seasonal morphology and immunoreactivity of cytokeratin and atrial natriuretic peptide in dromedary camel poll glands

Poll glands are characteristic feature of dromedary camels; although they yield a yellowish offensive secretion, especially during rutting (breeding) season, their function is not yet exactly specified. The present study shows the seasonal morphology and immunoreactivity of cytokeratin (CK) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the camel poll gland; the result could clearly specify the role of the gland in camel reproduction. Poll glands are compound tubulo-alveolar in structure. During rutting season, the secretory units showed wide lumina and simple squamous epithelium surrounded by myoepithelial cells; the lumina became narrower and the epithelium changed to simple cuboidal during non-rutting season. Many glandular lobules showed abundant interlobular connective tissue with fewer and smaller secretory units during non-rutting season compared to rutting season. Positive CK and ANP immunoreactivity was detected in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of secretory units and ducts together with the myoepithelial cells and blood vessels. Although CK immunoreactivity was more intense during rutting season in comparison to non-rutting season, there was no seasonal variation in ANP immunoreactivity. During both seasons, while the glandular capsule, connective tissue septa, interstitium showed negative CK immunoreactions, they reacted moderately to ANP. In conclusion, the poll gland undergoes annual structural and functional changes which are suggested to correlate with the male seasonal sexual behaviour. Further, the biological role of CK and ANP proteins together with their immunohistochemical expression in the camel poll gland suggests a stimulatory effect in the glandular secretory cells, and hence, they might modify camel sexual activity.     

Morphological,morphometric and histochemical characterization of the gastric mucosa of the camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Mucosal morphology, morphometry and mucin histochemistry of the stomach were studied in the one-humped camel. The lining of the stomach was divided into eight grossly identifiable regions. The first region was non-glandular, occupied the body of the first compartment of the stomach and constituted 53.2% of the gastric mucosa. The other seven regions were lined by a glandular mucosa. Histological, histochemical and morphometric investigations have shown that glandular mucosa comprises pseudo-cardiac, cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions. The pseudo-cardiac region was characterized by widely separated short tubular serous glands. It constituted 36.2% of the gastric mucosa; it extended over the entire lining of the second compartment and parts of the first and third compartments. The cardiac region was confined to the initial zone of the third compartment amidst the psuedo-cardiac region but contiguous with the distal end of the gastric groove. It constituted 3.4% of the gastric mucosa and was characterized by neutral and acid mucin positive glands. The fundic and pyloric regions occupied the distal distended part of the third compartment. The fundic region constituted 4.3% of the gastric mucosa. It was packed with typical fundic glands characterized by chief cells, parietal cells and acid mucin positive neck cells. The pyloric region constituted 2.9% of the gastric mucosa. Its glands were positive to acid mucins except for their bases that were positive to neutral mucins. Differences in volume densities of the mucosal components and reactivity of the surface epithelium and gastric pits to mucin stains were noted in the different regions of the stomach.     

雌性空怀双峰驼生殖道的形态结构

应用组织学方法观察了雌性空怀双峰驼生殖道的形态结构。结果显示，双峰驼生殖道的基本结构与其他哺乳动物相似，但微细结构有差异。双峰驼输卵管粘膜皱襞极其发达，分支多而呈复杂的网状迷路。皱襞基部的迷路酷似固有膜而存在腺体，迷路网格内常见细胞团块。虽然双峰驼怀孕时胎儿位于左侧子宫角，但左、右子宫角以及子宫体的组织结构基本相同。子宫内膜无肉阜，上皮下陷于固有膜内，形成大量长而弯曲的单管状腺。子宫颈固有膜浅层分布有许多小腺体，深层分布有成群的较大腺体。这些腺体为分支管状腺，腺上皮PAS强阳性。阴道粘膜上皮为复层上皮。从输卵管到阴道，粘膜上皮主要为单层柱状上皮，由纤毛细胞和分泌细胞组成，局部可见假复层柱状纤毛上皮。纤毛细胞由前向后逐渐减少，但在子宫颈仍可见到。粘膜上皮和腺上皮内夹有许多淋巴细胞或中性粒细胞，后段局部甚至见到这些免疫细胞浸润于上皮细胞间。固有膜内分布有大量淋巴细胞、中性粒细胞、肥大细胞、浆细胞和巨噬细胞，有时出现淋巴滤泡。     

Morphology of the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus

The morphology of the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), which plays an important function in marking area and territory and in the reproductive behaviour of the animal, was examined using immunohistochemistry, lectin histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy. The gland was composed of sebaceous and apocrine glandular material. Sebaceous glands occupied a greater area of the total gland and consisted of many large lobules with polyhedral cells having a pale cytoplasm. The sebaceous gland, being holocrine, possessed no special secretory ducts. The apocrine gland was lined by cuboid cells and the secretory products were often seen in the apical portions of the cells. Myoepithelial cells contained actin filaments lining the basal membranes of the apocrine gland and were surrounded by nerve fibres which immunostained with protein gene product 9.5. The secretion of the gland appears to be a mixture of larger amounts of lipid material from sebaceous glands, and glycoconjugates secreted by both sebaceous and apocrine glands. Lectin histochemistry detected these as galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose and D-glucose. The male gland was larger in size and contained more N-acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine in its secretion than the gland of the female. This implied the presence of sexual differences in secretions in the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer.     

双峰驼胃组织学研究

双峰驼胃分为前胃和皱胃。前胃分２室，第一室有前、后２个腺囊区，第二室只有１个腺囊区。胃壁由粘膜、粘膜下层、肌层和浆膜构成。３个腺囊区的结构类似，均由界限明显的有腺部和无腺部组成，有腺部的腺体类似牛、羊的贲门腺。第一室非腺囊区、贲门、第二室食道沟及３个腺囊区的无腺部结构类似，其粘膜上皮为复层扁平上皮，表层细胞角化。皱胃分贲门腺、胃底腺和幽门腺３个腺体区，与牛、羊相应的腺体类似     

A histochemical study of the camel (Camelus bactrianus) duodenal glands

The complex carbohydrates in the camel duodenal glands were examined histochemically at light and electron microscopic levels. The duodenal glands of the camel were distributed in the submucosa 2 m caudal from the pylorus. These were branched tubuloalveolar glands. The terminal portion of each lobule was formed by only one type of mucous cell. The duodenal gland cells contained acidic and neutral carbohydrates. The mucous cells mainly contained sulfate and carboxyl carbohydrate with sialic acid, and they also contained a few neutral carbohydrates with different saccharide residues such as mannose, glucose, galactose, N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetyl galactosamine. The results showed that the secretary granules of the duodenal glands in the camel contain mainly acidic carbohydrates. These findings seem to be the morphological characteristics of the duodenal glands in the camel.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ from Indian Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

The cDNAs of three cytokines, viz., IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ from Dromedary camels were amplified by PCR using Bactrian camel sequences and subsequently cloned for sequence analysis. Relationship based on amino acid sequences revealed that Dromedary camel IL-2 shared 99.5% and 99.3% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels with Bactrian camel IL-2. In the case of IL-4, the identity of Dromedary camel was 99.7% and 99.2% at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively with that of Bactrian camel. The Dromedary camel IFN-γ shared 100% identity both at nucleotide and amino acid levels with Bactrian camel IFN-γ. Phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences indicated the close relationship in these cytokine genes between the Dromedary camel and other camelids.     

Bilateral intraocular glandular choristomas in a Thoroughbred foal

Intraocular choristomas are rare anomalies in domestic animals and are often associated with multiple ocular malformations. A Thoroughbred foal presented for ocular abnormalities and was diagnosed with microphthalmia, corneal dermoids, severe anterior segment dysgenesis (including glandular choristomas), aphakia, retinal dysplasia, and optic nerve hypoplasia. Morphological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical comparisons were made between ocular choristomatous tissues from this foal and lacrimal gland, third eyelid gland, nasopharynx, trachea, and lacrimal sac/nasolacrimal duct from normal horses. Morphologically the choristomatous tissues (glands and epithelium lining the anterior segment) were most similar to the lacrimal sac. Histochemistry of glandular components found the glands associated with the lacrimal sac/nasolacrimal duct to be serous, as was the glandular intraocular choristomas. Our findings suggest that the origin of intraocular glandular choristomas in this case is from the lacrimal sac.     

阿拉善双峰驼及驼乳、驼肉研究概述

阿拉善双峰驼是世界主要骆驼品种之一,是宝贵的骆驼种质资源。文章综述了阿拉善双峰驼的驯养历史和驼乳、肉产品的研究概况,结合调研和测定数据分析了驼肉中氨基酸的成分及含量,以期为保护阿拉善双峰驼种质资源以及深入开发双峰驼系列产品提供帮助。     

Postnatal Development of the Stomach in the Japanese Field Vole, Microtus montebelli

The postnatal development of the stomach in the Japanese field vole, Microtus montebelli , were studied with the light and scanning electron microscopes.
Three kinds of cells constituting the fundic glands, that is, mucous neck cells, parietal cells and chief cells were distinguished clearly by light microscopy to have been differentiated around 14 days old. At 4 days old, the structure of pyloric glands was similar to that of adult stage. The investigation on the development of esophageal sac, fundic stomach and pyloric stomach was made by measuring each area of the vertical section. The fundic stomach grew more rapidly than the esophageal sac and pyloric stomach. The ratio of esophageal sac to fundic stomach and pyloric stomach in the area was about 1.5: 2: 1 at 20 days old.
In the fundic glands, 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT)- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells appeared first at 6 days old and at birth, respectively and in the pyloric glands, gastrin-, 5-HT- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells appeared at 19th day fetus. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells showed a rapid increase in the pyloric glands after birth. The distribution and frequency of endocrine cells were similar to that of adult at about 20 days old.
The fimbria showed bank-like appearance at the beginning and thereafter they showed the process-like structure. The fimbria in both the appearance and the length at 60 days old was similar to that of adult stage.
As a whole, the stomach of the field vole seemed to became mature at 20 days old in the aspects of gastric endocrine cells and morphology of gastric wall, although the fimbria formation was not accomplished at the same period.     

基于瘤胃转录组探究双峰驼沙漠适应性分子机制

旨在比较胚胎期和成年期双峰驼瘤胃在组织形态、编码基因表达上的变化,挖掘影响双峰驼瘤胃发育的关键基因和通路,从消化系统探究双峰驼的沙漠适应性机制。本研究选取3峰10~12岁健康状况良好的成年期阿拉善双峰驼,以及3峰9~10月龄健康状况良好的胚胎期阿拉善双峰驼,采集瘤胃组织样品,制作石蜡组织切片,观察成年期与胚胎期双峰驼瘤胃,比较其组织结构之间的差异。分别提取成年期和胚胎期双峰驼的瘤胃组织总RNA,利用Illumination Hiseq 2000测序平台分别进行转录组测序,对转录组数据进行质控、比对、差异基因筛选、GO、KEGG富集分析。随机选择6个差异表达基因进行荧光定量试验,关联转录组数据与荧光定量试验的表达趋势。结果表明,胚胎期瘤胃组织中上皮细胞和肌纤维细胞清晰可见,分布密集,在成年期的瘤胃组织中,可见明显的肌纤维,肌纤维直径较宽,肌纤维间的空隙较大。转录组测序结果显示,每个样本获得至少10G的数据量,各样本的质控率都在90%以上,Q30数据都在88%以上。对测序数据进行分析,以胚胎期为对照组,成年期为试验组,筛选到1 207个差异表达基因,其中上调基因456个,下调基因751个;对差异表达基因进行层次聚类分析,结果显示,成年期的3个个体（M1、M2、M3）表达模式接近,胚胎期的3个个体（T1、T2、T3）表达模式接近。对差异表达基因进行GO和KEGG富集分析,结果显示,上调差异表达基因显著富集到62条显著的GO条目,下调差异表达基因显著富集到366条显著的GO条目,73条显著的KEGG通路。差异表达基因主要富集在代谢过程的负调控、RNA生物合成过程的负调控、基因表达的负调控等GO条目中,KEGG主要富集到MAPK信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、糖尿病并发症中的AGE-RAGE信号、胰岛素信号通路、醛固酮的合成与分泌等通路中。同时筛选到MAPK12、MAPK13、FABP5、PPARγ、CaMK1等与双峰驼沙漠适应性相关的基因。荧光定量结果显示,差异基因在成年期和胚胎期瘤胃组织中的表达模式与RNA-Seq的结果一致。上述结果表明,双峰驼的瘤胃组织可能与脂肪细胞分化有关。在沙漠环境中,双峰驼可能降低瘤胃组织代谢效率、通过胰岛素抵抗作用提高血糖耐受性以及促进醛固酮的合成与分泌以调节血压平衡,以更好地在沙漠干燥缺水的环境中生存。     

Complex carbohydrate histochemistry and ultracytochemistry of the sheep lacrimal gland

The chemical content of the secretion of the sheep lacrimal gland was analysed at the light and electron microscope levels by applying histochemical techniques and an ultrastructural histochemical method (periodic acid, thiocarbohydrazide and silver proteinate). Mucosubstance histochemistry demonstrated acidic glycoconjugates, mainly sulphated, in the mucous and seromucous glandular cells and in the apical portion of the cells lining the terminal ducts. Moreover, secretory granules, stained with PA-TCH-SP, showed a different localization of the reaction product. The presence of lysozyme was also found in the glandular serous cells. These histochemical studies demonstrate that the secretion of sheep lacrimal glands is mixed, having serous, mucous and seromucous components, and that an excellent correlation exists between the secretory granule substructure and glycoprotein localization.     

内蒙古阿拉善盟双峰驼驼乳理化性质研究

本文研究了10峰内蒙古阿拉善盟双峰驼不同泌乳时间驼乳的一般理化性质。其比重及pH值与已有报道的单峰驼驼乳结果基本一致,而酸度(%)高于单峰驼。电导率与乳中Na+、K+和Cl-含量之和有关,随三者之和的增减而增减。驼乳的蛋白质、脂肪、乳糖、干物质、灰分和钙的含量均高于牛乳,磷的含量比牛乳略低。驼乳的缓冲性与牛乳有差异:当乳样先酸化后用碱回滴时,驼乳和牛乳分别在pH4.4～6.6和pH5.0～6.6范围内出现典型的“弧形线”,驼乳的最大缓冲作用发生在pH近似4.4处,牛乳的最大缓冲作用在pH近似5.1处,但驼乳在pH4.9处仍有一个缓冲峰。双峰驼驼乳的酒精稳定性(75±2.0)%稍低于牛乳的酒精稳定性(77±1.0)%,驼乳与牛乳的酒精稳定性的变化趋势基本一致,加入Na+、K+都引起酒精稳定性降低,游离Ca2+浓度的降低或pH值的上升都会导致酒精稳定性的增加。     

中国6个双峰驼群体微卫星遗传多样性分析

为了解中国双峰驼群体的遗传多样性及不同种群间的遗传进化关系,本研究采用微卫星标记技术,对中国阿拉善驼、青海驼、南疆驼、北疆驼、肃北驼、苏尼特驼6个双峰驼群体进行了遗传多样性分析。通过计算杂合度（H）、多态信息含量（PIC）、有效等位基因（Ne）、Shannon信息指数等分析群体内遗传变异,通过计算F-统计量、基因流、遗传分化系数、遗传距离等分析群体间遗传进化关系。结果显示,10个微卫星位点共检测到了89个等位基因,平均每个位点检测到8.9个等位基因;所有位点均属中高度多态位点（YWLL08除外）,平均PIC值在0.488~0.752之间;6个群体观测杂合度值（0.355~0.448）都低于期望杂合度值（0.643~0.703）;几乎所有位点的Shannon指数都>1,且处于哈代-温伯格不平衡状态（P< 0.05）。群体间遗传分化系数Fst值为0.059,处于较低程度的中等分化状态; 6个双峰驼群体的平均Fis值均为正值,说明6个双峰驼群体都存在不同程度的近交。基于标准遗传距离D_S和遗传距离D_A进行聚类分析,南疆驼和北疆驼聚为一支,阿拉善驼、青海驼、肃北驼、苏尼特驼4个群体聚为一支。研究表明,中国双峰驼遗传多样性丰富,群体内遗传变异较大,存在一定近交现象;群体间存在着一定的基因流动,群体间的分化主要由群体内的遗传变异造成;6个群体分为2个类群。     

Morphological Investigations of the Glandulae Profundae Plicae Semilunares Conjuctivae in the Domestic Swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) and the Wild Hog (Sus scrofa ferus)

Samples of glandulae profundae plicae semilunares (Harderian glands) from five domestic swine and five wild hogs were used for this research. The gland samples were fixed in Bouin solution and mounted in paraffin. The paraffin slices were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, according to the periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS) method, with alcian blue (pH 2.5), with toluidine blue (pH 4.0), and applying a combination of staining with alcian blue (pH 2.5) and the PAS method. In domestic swine and wild hogs, these glands are tubular-alveolar with wide glandular lumina. A great deal of acid mucopolysaccharides and PAS-positive substances were noted within swines’ glandular cells, while, in wild hogs, PAS-positive substances were not frequent, acid mucopolysaccharides being noted in only a few glandular-acini cells. The appearance of the metachromatic phenomenon was not noted either in domestic swine or in wild hogs. In domestic swine, the level of acid mucopolysaccharides is probably due either to the housing method or to the influence of the alkaline substances that may appear on an eye's mucous conjunctive membrane during intensive breeding, such that the Harderian glands protect the mucous membrane by extracting acid mucopolysaccharides.     

Analysis on the Genetic Diversity of Six Bactrian Camel Populations in China Using Microsatellite Marker

In order to understand the genetic diversity of Bactrian camel and the genetic evolutionary relationships between different populations,the genetic diversity of Alashan camel, Qinghai camel, Nanjiang camel, Beijiang camel, Subei camel and Sunite camel populations in China were analyzed using 10 microsatellite markers. By calculating heterozygosity (H), polymorphism information content (PIC), effective allele (Ne), Shannon information index, the genetic variation within populations were analyzed. By calculating the F-statistics, gene flow, genetic differentiation coefficient and genetic distance to analyze the genetic relationship between populations. The results showed that 89 alleles were tested at the 10 microsatellite loci,8.9 alleles were tested at every locus in average. All loci were medium-highly polymorphic loci (except YWLL08),the average PIC of the Bactrian camel population was between 0.488 to 0.752. The observed heterozygosity (0.355 to 0.448) of 6 Bactrian camel populations was lower than the expected heterozygosity (0.643 to 0.703). Almost all loci Shannon index was greater than 1,and most of loci were in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. The genetic differentiation coefficient between groups (Fst) value was 0.059 and in the low degree of moderately differentiated state. The average Fis values of 6 Bactrian camel populations were positive which suggested 6 Bactrian camel populations had different levels of inbreeding. The standard genetic distance (D_S) and genetic distance T (D_A) clustering analysis showed that the Nanjiang camel and Beijiang camel jointed as one group, the Alxa camel, Qinghai camel, Subei camel, Sunite camel jointed as the other group. Research showed that Chinese Bactrian camel was abundant in genetic diversity, genetic variation within population was larger, and there was a phenomenon of inbreeding. There was a certain gene flow between populations, the differentiation of populations were mainly caused by genetic variation within population. 6 Chinese Bactrian camel populations were divided into two groups.     

Structure and histochemistry of the sublingual salivary glands of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Morphometric, histological and histochemical studies were carried out on the sublingual salivary glands of the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius). The glands are of the tubulo-acinar type and consist of many lobules that are composed of two types of cells, mucoserous and seromucous. The mucoserous cells form the main secretory units of the gland but seromucous cells are much more seldom and form associated acini. The former cells secrete and elaborate large quantities of neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and little sulphomucins while only the apical portion of the latter cells shows weak to moderate activity for neutral and acid mucosubstances. The histoenzymological tests employed here detected a considerable activity of alkaline phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, aminopeptidase and non-specific esterases, but weak activities of cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase and no activities of triacylglycerol lipase, beta-glucoronidase and amylase. The functional significance of these findings is discussed.     

Abstracts: LVII Annual Meeting of the Italian Society for Veterin Ary Sciences (SISVET), Ischia 2003

The Bactrian camel is an important domestic animal in some of the desert and semi-desert areas of the world. However, there is no detailed report about the nervous supply to the nasal cavity of the Bactrian camel. In the present study, seven heads of adult Bactrian camels were collected and the nerve distribution in the nasal cavity was dissected grossly. The results demonstrated that the nerves supplying to the nasal cavity included the olfactory nerve, the ethmoidal nerve from the ophthalmic nerve, and the caudal nerve from the maxillary nerve. The general patterns of nervous distribution in the nasal cavity of the Bactrian camel corresponded with those of other domestic animals. However, the terminal nerve was not observed by this gross anatomical method in the Bactrian camel.