Surface Ultrastructure of Ultimobranchial Remnants in the Thyroid Gland of Buffalo (Bos bubalis)

The remnant of ultimobranchial (UB) body in the thyroid gland of adult buffalo was studied. This remnant appeared in the form of irregular and elongated follicles of various size and shape with folded lumen. These structures occupied a peripheral location beneath the capsule, as well as being embedded mostly in the vascular connective tissue of the thyroid. Calcitonin cells were predominantly localized in the UB follicles. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that surface of most UB follicular cells was almost flat and polyhedral or hexagonal in shape. Other follicles possessed cells with dome shaped apical surface demarcated by a shallow intercellular depression. The luminal surface of the follicular cell lining was studded with microvilli that appeared with various density and length and were numerous at the cellular borders. Interestingly, most of UB follicular cells were provided with single cilium, projecting over the cell surface. Notably some UB follicles presented various stages of apocrine activities.     

Surface Ultrastructure of Ultimobranchial Epithelium in the Thyroid Gland of Donkey (Equus asinus)

Surface ultrastructural observation of the thyroid gland in donkey revealed the coexistence of certain unusual follicles or cysts, the ultimobranchial (UB) follicles, which exhibited large diameters and less regular outlines. In addition, several small follicles, cell nests or solid cellular masses were also demonstrated in association with these structures. Surface of most UB follicular cells was almost hexagonal in shape, studded with sparse or dense pleomorphic microvilli, which were much denser at the cellular borders. Each follicular cell bore single cilium that projecting over the cell surface. Interestingly, bleb-like apocrine protrusion of the apical cytoplasm of some follicular cells was frequently demonstrated. These apocrine blebs (or aposomes) were varied in shape, size and showed smooth or irregular surface. In addition to such aposomes, deep to shallow circumscribed or eroded areas of the apical cell surface was frequently demonstrated. These findings indicate that the UB follicular cells in donkeys, similar to those of camels, exhibit an apocrine activity alongside with the usual merocrine mode of secretion.     

Regional Ileitis in Pigs: Morphological and Pathogenetical Aspects

Twenty-seven weaned pigs with a wasting appearance were investigated. From a morphological point of view the pigs were divided into three groups. In the group of pigs with macro-scopical signs of regional ileitis, affected tissue showed substantial epithelial proliferation, and electron microscopic studies revealed the presence of microorganisms within the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. There was a loss of, or only faint, enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase in the mucosal epithelium. In another group of five pigs there was no, or only slight, light microscopical signs of regional ileitis but presence of intracellular microorganisms. The enzymatic activity of the ileal epithelium was low. Low enzymatic activity of the ileal epithelium was observed in a third group of wasting pigs, which had no histological or electron microscopical signs of regional ileitis.     

家蚕茧丝突变种Nd的丝腺发育形态观察

裸蛹(Nd:25-0.0)其突变性状表现为绢丝腺退化及不能正常吐丝结茧,基因位于与丝素重链同在的第25号染色体的0.0座位。在本研究中,选用Nd-s及大造作为对照,解剖不同发育时期丝腺,经DAPI染色后计数其丝腺细胞数和观察丝腺细胞的发育情况。蚁蚕时期丝腺细胞数的统计结果表明,3个品种的中部丝腺和后部丝腺在细胞数目上并无显著性差异;而在5龄初期,Nd后部丝腺的发育明显比对照发育慢,特别是在长度上;对丝腺细胞核的染色观察发现,5龄期,Nd突变种的中部丝腺的细胞核分裂与对照相比无差异,均呈树突状分裂;而后部丝腺细胞只发生纵向扩展,无正常家蚕丝腺细胞的树突状分裂。对fib-H基因末端序列测序结果表明,该突变在fib-H末端的半胱氨酸位点也没有发生突变。由此认为,该突变种丝腺的退化并不是真正的细胞数减少或者发育过程中萎缩,而是后部丝腺细胞核的分裂过程发生异常从而造成后部丝腺的短小,推测该突变基因与细胞核的分裂有关。     

灰雁甲状腺的组织学研究

为研究灰雁与鹅的甲状腺结构的异同,采用不同方法,观察灰雁的甲状腺组织结构,在H-E染色的组织切片中,甲状腺实质由滤泡组成,滤泡由单层上皮细胞组成;在PAS反应中,甲状腺滤泡腔内的胶质深红染,显示胶质为糖类物质;在银染切片中,C细胞胞质内含有黑色的特异性嗜银颗粒,与太湖鹅、四季鹅不同。     

动物唾液腺功能组分研究进展

动物在长期进化过程中,其唾液腺经过不断演化而分泌具有各种生理活性的功能组分,并对机体产生多重作用.随着生物毒素成为新的研究热点,近年来对动物唾液腺分泌功能组分的研究也越来越深入.在吸血节肢动物、无颌类动物、有毒动物以及吸血蝙蝠的唾液腺分泌物中不断发现大量新的功能组分,其中包括抗凝、抗炎、抗肿瘤和抑菌等多种活性分子.除了...     

Reptilian neurology: anatomy and function.

The reptilian nervous system is relatively simple in structure yet is characterized by great functional diversity. This article describes the reptilian nervous system, highlighting the similarities and differences among species in structures and functions.     

Immunocytochemical Study of the Ultimobranchial Tubule in Wistar Rats

A systematic immunohistochemical study of the ultimobranchial tubule (UBT) has been carried out in 45 Wistar rats of different ages (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 60 and 120 days). The existence of calcitonin immunoreactive cells in the UBT wall has been demonstrated in a 5-days old rat. In addition, immunohistochemical studies for thyroglobulin revealed positive staining in follicular cells connected to the UBT and, occasionally, in isolated cells lying within solid clusters from the UBT. These last results together with the continued and repeated existence of numerous mitosis and PAS (+) microfollicles, apparently rising from the UBT, support the hypothesis that the ultimobranchial body (UBB) may contribute partially to the formation of a part of the follicular component.     

Harderian Gland in Canadian Ostrich (Struthio camelus): A Morphological and Histochemical Study

Heads of ten healthy adult ostrich obtained from slaughter house were the constituted materials of the study. The Harderian gland (HG) was dissected out, and all of the gross morphometrical parameters including length, width and thickness as well as weight of left and right glands were recorded. Tissue sections were stained, using haematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, periodic acid‐Schiff and Alcian blue (pH 2.5) techniques. In ostrich, HG was an orbital organ located ventromedially around the posterior part of the eyeball. It was an oval flatted shape, light pink colour with irregular outline and was pointed in the dorsal end. Its mean length was 35.30 ± 2.84 mm and 35.55 ± 3.58 mm in left and right sides, respectively, and mean width 15.30 ± 1.20 mm and 15.65 ± 1.18 mm in left and right sides, respectively. There was no significant difference between length, thickness, weight and width of left and right glands. Histological results showed that the glandular epithelium was multilobular and compound tubuloalveolar. The gland was surrounded by a connective tissue capsule, and the epithelium was lined by simple columnar epithelial cells of varying height. The secretion of HG was mucous and the secretion type was apocrine. Mucosubstance analysis revealed that secretory units contained acidic and neutral glycoproteins. The granules within the epithelial cells lining the intralobular and inter‐lobular excretory ducts of the gland were positive for periodic acid‐Schiff and Alcian blue (pH 2.5).     

Health Assessment of the Reptilian Reproductive Tract

The number of reptiles maintained as pets, along with the captive reproduction of these animals, has increased dramatically over the last 2 decades. Reproductive tract pathology, secondary to an inadequate captive environment, is a common occurrence that can lead to abnormal reproductive activity and resulting disease. Additional factors such as malnutrition, obesity, systemic disease, infection/inflammation, trauma, and dehydration contribute to the development of reproductive tract disorders. The diagnosis of reproductive tract disease requires a thorough history, laboratory testing, and diagnostic imaging. An understanding of a species' biological and environmental requirements is essential for the prevention of reproductive tract disease. The purpose of this article is to review the reproductive tract anatomy and physiology of snakes, turtles, and lizards, and to provide a brief overview of the common disorders affecting the reproductive tract of reptilian species.     

猪生殖——呼吸综合征病毒蛋白的结构与功能

猪生殖－－呼吸道综合征（ＰＲＲＳ）病毒是新发现的ＲＮＡ病毒，其基因组有８个开放阅读框架（ＯＲＦ），ＯＲＦ１编码病毒的ＲＮＡ聚合酶，ＯＲＦ２－７分别编码糖蛋白ＧＰ２－５、Ｍ蛋白和Ｎ蛋白。本文概括了近几年来国际上对其病毒蛋白的研究成果，对这些病毒蛋白的结构，功能及其免疫学地位进行了分析和讨论。     

New Morphological Aspects of the Bipolar Cell in the Chick Embryo: The Accessory Prolongation

Using the silver-staining techniques of Golgi Colonnier and Golgi-Stensaas, we have found a new morphological datum in the study and understanding of the structure of the bipolar cell in the chick retina. We describe the existence of a prolongation, possibly dendritic in nature, which sets out from the inner network and separates from its companions following a short path through the outer plexiform layer to terminate freely. It appears for the first time on the 10th day of incubation and always in bipolar cells whose outer branching has its dendritic pattern well-defined. We have named it the accessory prolongation.     

Comparative Cytology of the Neuro-Intermediate Lobe of the Reptilian Pituitary

In many reptiles the pars nervosa bears a striking resemblance to the mammalian median eminence. The structure of the ependymal cells lining the infundibular recess and the fact that many of them are in synaptic contact with nerve fibres suggests that they subserve more than a mere structural role and that they may be involed in secretory or transport functions forming functional units with neuronal elements of the hypothalamus. All species possess large numbers of typical peptidergic fibres although some have in addition a second, rarer type; aminergic fibres are also present but their numbers vary in different species. The pars intermedia contains nerve fibres only in snakes and Caiman but even in these species the innervation is sparse. This observation coupled with the organisation of the pars nervosa leads to the conclusion that the latter may act, in part at least, as the “median eminence” of the pars intermedia. A more extensive survey, particularly amongst the families of lizards thought to be related to the ancestors of snakes, might throw further light upon the course of evolution of control mechanisms within the pars intermedia of reptiles.