Interaction of maternal separation on the UCh rat cerebellum.

Maternal care is the main source of signals and stimuli for proper development, growth, and production of adjustment responses to stressful factors. Adverse experiences in childhood are associated with a vulnerability to developing abusive ethanol ingestion via alterations of the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Alcoholism causes global brain abnormalities, with the cerebellum being one of the most susceptible areas. We evaluated the effect of maternal separation on the cerebellum structure of male UCh rats. Adult male UChA (low 10% ethanol consumption) and UChB (high 10% ethanol consumption) rats were divided in to four experimental groups: (1) UChA, (2) UChA maternal separation (MS), (3) UChB, and (4) UChB MS. The MS occurred between the 4th and 14th days of age, for 240 min day(-1) . Euthanasia was performed at 120 days of age. An image analysis system was used to measure cerebellar cortical height and Purkinje cellular area and height in five rats from each group. The cerebellar sections were stained with antibodies against IGFR-I. MS did not alter the ethanol consumption of UChA and UChB rats. Corticosterone level was significantly higher in UChA MS and UChB MS rats than in UChA and UChB rats. The Purkinje cellular area and height were higher in UChA MS rats. IGFR-I expression was observed in the cortical glomerular area of UChA MS and UChB MS rats. MS altered the Purkinje cells in the cerebella of male UCh rats.

Some segmental features on the structure of the aortic wall of the dog.

Structural features of segmental parts of the aorta of the dog were studied by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The variability in the wall architecture composition and vascular thickness of the ascending (T2-3 level), thoracic (T7-8 level) and abdominal (L6-7 infrarenal level) segments of the aorta was analysed. Morphological features such as presence of intimal folds, pattern of the medial myoconnective components with segmental variations in the number of elastic lamellae, whose relative number was higher in the thoracic aorta (ascending and descending parts), compared with the abdominal aorta, and a network of connective (stromal) elements formed by elastic and collagen lamellae and fibres in the adventitia were observed. The results were discussed on a histophysiological basis, because small but significant segmental differences had been characterized in the aortic wall structure of the dog.

The ultrastructure of the guinea pig rete testis.

The chambers of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pig are lined by a simple epithelium, whose cells are squamous, cubical and columnar in shape. The epithelial cells with distinct shapes were counted and the quantitative analysis of the number of these cells showed relative predominance of cubical cells. The ultrastructural observations showed predominance of membrane interdigitations among the epithelial cells. These cells present common cytoplasmic organelles. The Golgi complex polarity is typical with observation of electronlucent vesicles on the Golgi cis face closely related to rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lamellae, mitochondria and large number of polysomes on the Golgi trans face. These related structures present in Golgi area of RT cells suggest secretory activity which maybe occurs in the RT epithelium. Endocytotic process also occurs in the RT and this function probably concerns the uptake of substances and resorption of seminiferous fluid. Apical cilia present in RT epithelium cells are related with fluid transport and perhaps with chemoreception. Presence of spermatozoa portions enclosed into the cytoplasm of some epithelium cells has been referred to as spermatophagy. The RT complex is mainly supported by loose connective tissue, with collagen fibres and some Leydig cells. Leydig cells are adjacent to the network channels of the septal part of the RT and apparently are able to secrete inside the RT lumen.

Morphology of the vas deferens of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).

A morphological study of the budgerigar vas deferens was conducted to demonstrate the electron-microscopic features of its epithelial lining. The analysis showed that the vas deferens of the budgerigar was found to be of a tubular and serpentine structure, continuous with the epididymal region and lined with stereo ciliated pseudostratified epithelium, which contained folds projecting into the tubular lumen and a characteristic brush border. The epithelium consists of ciliated and non-ciliated cells with different electron densities. Ciliated cells were characterized by two morphologically distinct configurations: some cells were columnar and other ciliated cells were longer, thinner and dark. Non-ciliated cells showed apical cytoplasmic expansions, which projected into the tubular lumen as protrusions.

Morphometric analysis of the intestine of domestic quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) treated with different levels of dietary calcium.

The aim of this study was to perform a morphometric analysis of the various parts of the intestine of the domestic quail. Twenty-four female quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) aged 37 weeks were used and accommodated in laying cages for 12 weeks. Each group was fed a standardized diet containing different quantities of calcium: 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.5%. The birds were weighed, killed, and samples of 1 cm were collected from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and submitted to the histological routine. The sections obtained were stained in haematoxylin & cosin (H&E). For morphometric analysis, 30 villi and 30 crypts of each segment of the small intestine were measured in order to determine the height and area of the villi, as well as the depth of the crypts. The results showed that although the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract was maintained in all the birds treated with the different calcium levels, a calcium level of 3.0% showed the most promise. as the levels of 2.0% and 2.5% did not cause any alteration in the intestinal tract. Furthermore, a calcium level of 3.5% led to a significant reduction in the height of the villosities, and in consequence reduced the digestive and absorptive capabilities.

Morphologic study of the efferent ductules of the pigeon (Columba livia).

The efferent ductules of the pigeon are localized in the epididymal region and are topographically divided into proximal and distal, both portions being lined with stereociliated pseudostratified epithelium. Transmission electron microscopy shows five distinct cell types: light, dark, and angular non-ciliated cells with possible apocrine secretory role cells and halo cells, possibly intraepithelial leucocytes. The proximal efferent ductules have the widest diameter among all ductules in the epididymal region.

Morphological study of the vas deferens of the pigeon (Columba livia).

A morphological study of the vas deferens of the pigeon was carried out in order to determine the electronmicroscopic features of its epithelial lining, and the expression of pancytokeratins. The results showed that the epithelium is columnar pseudostratified and consists of non-ciliated (principal) cells and basal cells. Presence of a predominantly granular endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and well-developed Golgi complexes bearing vesicles on their cis/trans surfaces were observed. In addition to these vesicles associated with the Golgi complexes were observed membrane-delimited vesicles with a low electron density content or with an electrondense content mainly related to the endoplasmic reticulum. Apical cytoplasmic expansions with heterogeneous cytoplasmic content were also seen. These subcellular features associated to the presence of pancytokeratins, suggest the occurrence of a secretory process in principal cells, as well provide a mural structural support to the vas deferens.

Seasonal morphology of the domestic quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) testis.

A histological study was conducted on the testes of adult domestic quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) over a year. The results revealed a clear variation of testicular weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, and the thickness and composition of the germinal epithelium over the year. The highest testicular weights were detected at the end of the autumn and during the winter (short-day period), reaching a maximum, together with spermatogenic activity, in September (long-day period in the southern hemisphere). In contrast, both testicular weight and spermatogenic activity were markedly decreased at the end of spring and during summer (long-day periods in the southern hemisphere).

Características morfológicas da regiäo epididimária do pombo doméstico (Columba livia, L.) / Morphological characteristics of the epididymal region of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia, L.)

A regiäo epididimária do pombo doméstico compreende a parte principal da rede testicular, os dúctulos eferentes do testículo e o ducto epididimário. Os canais epiteliais da rede testicular säo contínuos com o segmento extratesticular da rede, o qual, por sua vez, é seqüente com os dúctulos eferentes proximais e distais e, finalmente, o ducto epididimário se forma em continuidade aos eferentes distais. O epitélio de revestimento deste sistema tubular extratesticular é cúbico simples na rede testicular e pseudo-estratificado colunar nos outros ductos da regiäo epididimária, com células ciliadas e näo-ciliadas presentes principalmente nos dúctulos eferentes. As características ultra-estruturais das células epiteliais dos túbulos da regiäo epididimária do pombo, com base comparativa, permitiram inferir que a reabsorçäo de fluido seminífero parece ser a funçäo principal dessas células, embora outros papéis citofisiológicos foram também propostos, tais como: endocitose adsorptiva, ciliogênese, e possivelmente secreçäo apócrina nas células näo-ciliadas escuras