Microscopic anatomy of the oesophagus in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) a histochemical,stereological, and scanning electron microscope study

The present work was designed to investigate the microscopic structure of the oesophagus in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) using histochemical staining, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and stereological procedures. Four adult males were included in our study. Serial sections of the entire length of the oesophagus were stained with aldehyde fuchsin, alcian blue (pH 2.5), Periodic acid Schiff (PAS), and Masson's trichrome. Then, the total volume of the oesophagus, and the total volume of its different layers, were estimated using Cavalieri's principle. The oesophageal epithelium was a non-keratinized stratified squamous type. Muscularis mucosa was present as a thick layer between lamina propria and submucosa and its thickness was increased toward the stomach. Tunica submucosa was a loose connective tissue containing an oesophageal gland with PAS-positive and AB-positive reactions throughout the submucosa and become denser toward the stomach. The tunica muscularis consisted of two distinct striated muscle layers, and its thickness was decreased toward the stomach. On SEM images, the cervical and thoracic oesophagus showed shallow folding, while the abdominal part had deeper folds. The present findings indicate that the histological properties of the oesophagus in southern white-breasted hedgehogs have slight similarities with rodents and considering its epithelium, submucosal glands and tunica muscularis more resemble with dog oesophagus. The obtained results may be quite helpful to improve the current knowledge of the histophysiology of the hedgehog gastrointestinal tract as a member of eulipotyplan mammals and as a pet for biologists and veterinarians.     

Carcinoma of the submandibular salivary glands with multiple metastases in a cat

A 9-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented because of coughing, dysphagia, and prostration. Examination revealed firm bilateral anterocervical swellings extensively adhered to the surrounding tissues. Anisocoria with left-side miosis was also evident. X-ray and ultrasound examinations along with a fine-needle aspiration biopsy were performed. Slides were stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa, and a diagnosis of salivary gland carcinoma was made. At surgery, the tumor was found to involve both submandibular salivary glands as well as adjacent lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. The cat was euthanized and necropsy was performed. The majority of tissues and organs examined histologically, including mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, soft palate, laryngopharynx and lungs, contained neoplastic cells whose appearance was consistent with adenocarcinoma. Bilateral salivary adenocarcinoma has not previously been reported in cats, and extensive metastases are rare.     

Lectin histochemistry of dog major and minor salivary glands

The distribution of different carbohydrates in dog major and minor salivary glands was investigated using a peroxidase-labelled avidin-biotin method to demonstrate binding of six lectins (Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin [Con A], Dolichos biflorus agglutinin [DBA], Arachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin [PNA], Glycine max agglutinin [SBA], Tetragonolobus purpurea agglutinin [TGP] and wheat germ agglutinin [WGA]). With PNA, there was only weak staining in serous acini of parotid glands. Other lectins bound, to different degrees, to different components of the salivary glands; differences could be detected between glands and between binding of different lectins to serous and mucous acinar cells and to the epithelial cell cytoplasm, luminal surface and contents of ducts. These results provide a basis for the comparison of possible changes in carbohydrates which may occur in salivary gland diseases.     

Unilateral exophthalmia in a European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) caused by a lacrimal ductal carcinoma

A 5-year-old European hedgehog was examined because of exophthalmos of the left eye. A retrobulbar mass in the ventromedial orbit was suspected and confirmed by a computed tomography scan. Exophthalmos progressed despite systemic broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. The left orbit was exenterated and the mass was partially removed. The histopathologic diagnosis was lacrimal ductal carcinoma. Lacrimal ductal carcinoma is rare in humans and animals. The long-term prognosis is guarded to poor.     

双峰驼胃底腺区黏膜组织学与组织化学研究

用组织学和组织化学研究方法重点观察了双峰驼胃底腺的细胞组成、分布及其组织化学特性。结果表明，双峰驼胃底腺区有发达的黏膜皱襞和厚的黏膜层，固有层中充满长而直的分支管状腺，由颈黏液细胞、壁细胞、主细胞和亲银细胞组成。颈黏液细胞分布在腺颈部，为混合黏液细胞，以分泌酸性糖共轭物为主。壁细胞十分丰富，分布于整个腺体，以腺体体部最多，细胞内含有酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶以及活性较强的非特异性醋酶，糖共轭物呈色均为阴性。主细胞位于腺体体部和底部，胞质中有大量的嗜碱性颗粒，含非特异性醋酶，但无糖共轭物。在黏膜褶顶部腺体体部和底部常看到不成熟的主细胞，其形态同颈黏液细胞和主细胞相似，为矮柱状或立方状，胞质有大量细小的颗粒，糖共轭物呈色反应和颈黏液细胞相似。糖共轭物呈色结果还显示，胃底腺区黏膜表面上皮仅分泌中性糖共轭物，胃小凹上皮和颊部腺上皮可分泌混合糖共轭物，胃小凹浅层上皮以中性糖共轭物为主，而底部上皮和颊部腺上皮以酸性糖共轭物为主。此外，在网状纤维染色时我们发现颈黏液细胞有明显的嗜银现象，核上胞质可见大量的嗜银颗粒，不成熟的主细胞有类似表现，但较其弱，颊部腺上皮也有较弱的嗜银性，而成熟的主细胞则无此特点，建议将此法作为颈黏液细胞和主细胞的鉴别方法。虽然双峰驼胃底腺区黏膜的微观结构及组织化学特性同其他动物和人有差异。但基本结构相似。     

Acinic cell carcinoma in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

Abstract: A male African pygmy hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris ), estimated to be 3 years old, presented with exophthalmos and fixed abduction of the right eye. Radiographic examination revealed a retrobulbar tumor in the right orbital cavity. The mass was surgically resected but recurred 3 months later and the hedgehog died. There was no gross or microscopic evidence of salivary or lacrimal gland involvement of the tumor at surgery or at necropsy. The histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings were those of acinic cell carcinoma, the origin of which was unknown. This is the first known case of acinic cell carcinoma in an African hedgehog.     

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.     

禽类输卵管精子腺组织学与组织化学研究

采用解剖学、组织学及组织化学方法,观察了鸡、鸭、鹅、鹌鹑的输卵管精子腺形态学特点。结果表明,禽类输卵管精子腺是由单层柱状上皮或锥形细胞围绕而成的单管状腺,分布于黏膜固有层内;含输卵管精子腺的环状黏膜带的宽度因输卵管的机能状态及种类不同存在差异;鸡、鹌鹑和鹅的输卵管精子腺细胞,在产卵期和休止期均呈过碘酸雪夫染色(PAS)阳性反应,而鸭呈PAS阴性反应;产卵期和休止期鸡精子腺细胞,均呈脂肪染色强阳性反应,而鸭、鹅、鹌鹑的精子腺细胞呈阴性反应。     

Histological and histochemical study of the proventriculus (Ventriculus glandularis) of common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

The histological and histochemical structures of the proventriculus of starling (Sturnus vulgaris) were examined using haematoxylin and eosin and special staining, that is periodic acid schiff (PAS), Masson's trichrome, Alcian blue, Orcein and Reticulin. All three cranial, middle and caudal parts of the proventriculus were also studied. The study results showed that the wall of the proventriculus consisted of mucosal, submucosal, muscular and serosal tunics. The mucosal tunic presented folds and sulci on its luminal surface. In the first third of the proventriculus, the tunica mucosa characterized by presence of folds lined by stratified squamous epithelium and presence of simple tubular glands in the lamina propria. In the middle and caudal thirds of the proventriculus, the surface was covered by a columnar epithelium, and the branched tubular glands were extended through the lamina propria. From the base of the branched tubular glands, the deep proventricular glands were observed that were compound tubuloalveolar lobules. The surface epithelium of the tunica mucosa and the cells lining the proventricular glands showed a positive reaction to PAS and Alcian blue stainings. In addition, the epithelial cells of the tubular and branched tubular glands showed Masson's trichrome-positive reaction. The submucosal tunic was thin in the proventricular wall. The tunica muscularis was formed by a thin inner layer of longitudinal smooth muscle fibres and a thick outer layer of circular fibres. The serosa consisted of loose connective tissue, rich in blood vessels and covered by mesothelium.     

A lectin histochemical study of the zygomatic salivary gland of adult dogs

Seven lectins (PNA, DBA, SBA, UEA I, LTA, WGA and ConA), conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, were used to characterize the glycosidic residues in the zygomatic gland of adult dogs. In some cases (PNA and DBA), lectin staining was preceded by neuraminidase digestion. The acinar and tubular cells produced glycoconjugates with different sugar residues, presenting binding sites for all of the lectins used. The apical surfaces of the cells lining the intra- and interlobular ducts were also stained by all the lectins. In contrast, the demilunar cells only reacted with the Neu-PNA sequence and Con A. Abbreviations: Neu, neuraminidase; see also Table I     

A pathological study of the salivary glands of rabid dogs in the Philippines

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus. While the salivary glands are important as exit and propagation sites for the rabies virus, the mechanisms of rabies excretion remain unclear. Here, we investigated the histopathology of the salivary glands of rabid dogs and analyzed the mechanism of excretion into the oral cavity. Mandibular and parotid glands of 22 rabid dogs and three control dogs were used. Mild to moderate non-suppurative sialadenitis was observed in the mandibular glands of 19 of the 22 dogs, characterized by loss of acinar epithelium and infiltration by lymphoplasmacytic cells. Viral antigens were detected in the mucous acinar epithelium, ganglion neurons and myoepithelium. Acinar epithelium and lymphocytes were positive for anti-caspase-3 antibodies and TUNEL staining. In contrast, no notable findings were observed in the ductal epithelial cells and serous demilune. In the parotid gland, the acinar cells, myoepithelium and ductal epithelium all tested negative. These findings confirmed the path through which the rabies virus descends along the facial nerve after proliferation in the brain to reach the ganglion neurons of the mandibular gland, subsequently traveling to the acinar epithelium via the salivary gland myoepithelium. Furthermore, the observation that nerve endings passing through the myoepithelium were absent from the ductal system suggested that viral proliferation and cytotoxicity could not occur there, ensuring that secretions containing the virus are efficiently excreted into the oral cavity.     

Immunohistochemistry of the bovine secretory carbonic anhydrase isozyme (CA-VI) in bovine alimentary canal and major salivary glands

In the present study, we firstly demonstrated immunohistochemical expressions of secretory carbonic anhydrase (CA-VI) isozyme in bovine forestomach, large intestine and major salivary glands. CA-VI was detected in basal layer epithelial cells of esophageal and forestomach stratified epithelium, in mucous cells of upper glandular region of large intestine, in serous acinar cells of the parotid gland, in serous demilune cells and some ductal liner cells of mandibular, monostomatic sublingual and esophageal glands. These immunohistolocalizations suggested that bovine CA-VI plays various roles in pH regulation, maintenance of ion and fluid balance, and cell proliferation.     

Histology,histochemistry and ultrastructure of the nasopharyngeal tonsil of the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The light microscopic appearance and ultrastructure of the nasopharyngeal tonsil (tonsilla pharyngea), collected from 12 adult buffaloes of local mixed breed, were explored for the distribution of different types of epithelia, lymphoid tissue and high endothelial venules. The tonsillar mucosa was lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium having goblet cells. The respiratory epithelium associated with the underlying lymphoid tissue formed the lymphoepithelium. The epithelium was further modified into follicle‐associated epithelium (FAE) characterized by reduced epithelial height, presence of a few dome‐shaped cuboidal cells equivalent of the M‐cells and absence of goblet and ciliated cells. The lymphoid tissue was distributed in the form of isolated lymphoid cells, diffuse lymphoid tissue and lymphoid follicles, mainly distributed within the propria‐submucosa along with the sero‐mucous glandular tissue. The goblet cells of the respiratory epithelium and the acinar cells contained different mucopolysaccharides. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface mucosa demonstrated a dense mat of cilia, island‐like arrangement of microvillus cells, M‐cells and a few brush‐like cells. The transmission electron microscopy revealed the different cell organelles of the respiratory epithelium and the FAE. Lymphocyte migration via the high endothelial venules in the propria‐submucosa was also observed.     

黄鳝性逆转过程中性腺形态学初步观察

试验通过对性逆转过程中雌、雄鳝以及雌雄间体鳝的性腺的形态学进行观察 ,结果显示 ,雌鳝性腺大部分含肉眼可见的卵粒 ,但各时期卵巢的卵粒大小不一。雌雄间性阶段黄鳝性腺肉眼仅见不同形态的卵粒 ,部分卵粒极少 ;组织切片既可观察到卵母细胞 ,还可发现结缔组织纵隔和在纵隔上形成的管状结构的早期精细管 ;而雄鳝阶段黄鳝性腺多呈乳白色带有黑色斑点 ,带有较多且大的黑色斑点性腺可能是卵母细胞退化凋亡痕迹 ,其切面中有较稀疏精母细胞 ,可能属早期的精巢 ;乳白色性腺中黑色斑点极少 ,精母细胞相对较密集 ,可能是成熟期的精巢。试验表明黄鳝“性逆转”在形态学上具有明显的阶段性特征     

亚洲璃眼蜱唾液腺差异表达基因文库的构建及分析

从单雌蜱克隆群中挑选未吸血雌蜱60只，随机分成两组。未吸血组直接剖取唾液腺．半饱血组于蜱吸血第5d采集，分离唾液腺。Trizol法提取总RNA，经第一链合成、LD—PCR、RasⅠ酶切、接头连接和抑制消减杂交（SSH）等步骤，获得差异表达基因的cDNA片段。将纯化的cDNA片段与pGEMT—Easv我体连接，转化DH5a，获得204个白色菌落。扩增检查表明，136个克隆含有插入片段，片段大小为250bp-850bm，测出有效序列120个。由10个cDNA片段的RT—PCR检查结果初步断定，本研究消减效果良好。由网上资源分析得：21个片段与其他蜱的基因，19个片段与按蚊、库蚊、钩虫、奥斯特线虫等其他吸血寄生虫的基因，9个与果蝇的基因具有同源性。     

周岁黑熊脾脏的组织学和组织化学研究

采用石蜡和冰冻切片方法，进行３Ｍ·Ｅ和Ｗｉｌｄｅｒ染色，并以酸性α－醋酸萘醋酶（ＡＮＡＥ）法显示Ｔ淋巴细胞的分布。结果表明：周岁黑熊（Ｓｅｌｅｎａｒｃｔｏｓｔｈｉｂｅｔａｎｕｓ）脾脏小梁较多，脾窦发育不良．动脉周围淋巴鞘发达；鞘动脉位于脾索内，靠近边缘区；椭球厚为３０－４０μｍ。ＡＮＡＥ阳性反应的淋巴细胞主要分布于白髓的中央动脉周围淋巴鞘内，其次是脾小结外周，边缘区和椭球内。     

Evolutionary retention of defensive lateral pedal glands in the smallest siphonariid limpet (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

Despite its cryptic habitat and habits, light and transmission electron microscopy has revealed that like many other siphonariids Siphonaria compressa, the smallest species of this genus, possesses lateral pedal glands. The pear-shaped glands (about 120 µm long×70 µm maximum diameter) open via a pore, and are multicellular with three types of secretory cell that surround a central lumen. The glands of this minute pulmonate limpet are similar in structure to its larger relatives, suggesting that they are defensive in function.     

Histology and histochemistry of the pharyngeal cavity and oesophagus of the silverside Odontesthes bonariensis (Cuvier and Valenciennes)

The histology of the pharyngeal cavity and oesophagus of the freshwater 'silverside'Odontesthes bonariensis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) and the characteristics of their mucous cells were investigated. The histological characterization of its digestive wall revealed that the mucosa is thrown with longitudinal folds. The epithelium covering the folds was stratified with abundant mucous cells and gustative corpuscles, which are lacking in the oesophagus. The muscularis mucosa was absent. The submucosa presented the compactum stratum. The muscularis was organized in longitudinal and circular layers of muscular striated fibres. The serosa with a flat epithelium was located only in the oesophagus. Using histochemical procedures including methods for localization and characterization of glycoproteins (GPs), no differences were detected between the mucous cells contents of the pharyngeal cavity and those of the oesophagus. The mucous cells showed a weak periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive reaction in their content. The reactions for the differential analysis of sialic acids from GPs are feeble for periodic acid-Schiff at low temperature and low pH (PA*S) and KOH/PA*S and strong for periodic acid/borohydride/KOH/PAS (PA/Bh/KOH/PAS) and KOH/PA*/Bh/PAS revealing the scarce presence of C7 or C9 substituted and non-substituted sialic acids and the abundance of C7, C8 substituted sialic acids, O-acyl sugars and neutral sugars respectively. The results suggest that the pharyngeal cavity with the gustative corpuscles would induce the gastric secretion whereas the oesophagus is mainly involved in the transport of the food bolus to the stomach with the aid of abundant secretion of mucus. GPs secreted on the surface of the mucous cells, likely related to environmental conditions, would be involved in the lubrication, protection against abrasion and inhibition of microorganism proliferation.