Morphology and immunolocalization of aquaporins 1 and 9 in the agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) testis excurrent ducts

Abstract This study investigated the morphology and immunoexpression of aquaporins (AQPs) 1 and 9 in the rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens in the Azara's agouti (Dasyprocta azarae). For this purpose, ten adult sexually mature animals were used in histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. The Azara's agouti rete testis was labyrinthine and lined with simple cubic epithelium. Ciliated and non-ciliated cells were observed in the epithelium of the efferent ducts. The epididymal cellular population was composed of principal, basal, apical, clear, narrow, and halo cells. The epithelium lining of vas deferens was composed of the principal and basal cells. AQPs 1 and 9 were not expressed in the rete testis. Positive reaction to AQP1 was observed at the luminal border of non-ciliated cells of the efferent ducts, and in the peritubular stroma and blood vessels in the epididymis, and vas deferens. AQP9 was immunolocalized in the epithelial cells in the efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens. The morphology of Azara's agouti testis excurrent ducts is similar to that reported for other rodents such as Cuniculus paca. The immunolocalization results of the AQPs suggest that the expression of AQPs is species-specific due to differences in localization and expression when compared to studies in other mammals species. The knowledge about the expression of AQPs in Azara's agouti testis excurrent ducts is essential to support future reproductive studies on this animal, since previous studies show that AQPs may be biomarkers of male fertility and infertility.

Morphology and immunolocalization of aquaporins 1 and 9 in the agouti (Dasyprocta azarae) testis excurrent ducts

This study investigated the morphology and immunoexpression of aquaporins (AQPs) 1 and 9 in the rete testis, efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens in the Azaras agouti (Dasyprocta azarae). For this purpose, ten adult sexually mature animals were used in histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. The Azaras agouti rete testis was labyrinthine and lined with simple cubic epithelium. Ciliated and non-ciliated cells were observed in the epithelium of the efferent ducts. The epididymal cellular population was composed of principal, basal, apical, clear, narrow, and halo cells. The epithelium lining of vas deferens was composed of the principal and basal cells. AQPs 1 and 9 were not expressed in the rete testis. Positive reaction to AQP1 was observed at the luminal border of non-ciliated cells of the efferent ducts, and in the peritubular stroma and blood vessels in the epididymis, and vas deferens. AQP9 was immunolocalized in the epithelial cells in the efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens. The morphology of Azaras agouti testis excurrent ducts is similar to that reported for other rodents such as Cuniculus paca. The immunolocalization results of the AQPs suggest that the expression of AQPs is species-specific due to differences in localization and expression when compared to studies in other mammals species. The knowledge about the expression of AQPs in Azaras agouti testis excurrent ducts is essential to support future reproductive studies on this animal, since previous studies show that AQPs may be biomarkers of male fertility and infertility.(AU)

Morfologia do seio coronário em fetos de bovinos azebuados / Morphology of coronary sinus in bovine fetal hearts

O seio coronário em fetos de bovinos azebuados é estudado através de dissecções e radiografias vasculares. Há dois padrões predominantes de formação: por continuação direta da veia ázigos esquerda, a partir da veia cardíaca magna; e pela união da veia cardíaca magna com a veia ázigos esquerda. O primeiro padrão de formação do seio coronário apareceu em 17 animais, enquanto o segundo padrão foi encontrado em 13 animais. Quanto ao sexo, não houve diferença entre os padrões apresentados. Os principais tributários venosos do seio coronário em fetos de bovinos são representados pelos seguintes vasos: veia cardíaca magna, veia cardíaca média, veias da face atrial do ventrículo esquerdo e, veias oblíquas do átrio esquerdo. A veia cardíaca magna é observada como uma continuação direta da veia interventricular paraconal. A partir destes resultados, constata-se que o padrão venoso cardíaco no feto bovino é predominantemente confluente ao seio coronário. Apenas um pequeno número de vasos é diretamente confluente ao átrio direito do coração bovino.(AU)

The coronary sinusin fetuses ofzebu-crossedbovinesis studiedbyvasculardissectionsand radiographs. There aretwopredominant patterns offormation of thecoronary sinus: bydirect continuation of theleft azygos vein, from thegreat cardiac vein, and by theunion of thegreat cardiac veinwith theleft azygos vein. The first patternappeared in17animals,while thesecondpatternformation of thecoronary sinuswas found in13animals. Regarding sex there was nodifference between thepatterns shown.The main tributariesof the coronaryveinincattleare representedby the followingvessels: great cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, veins of the faceof theleft ventricle andatrium, obliqueveinof left atrium.The great cardiac veinisseen asadirect continuation of theinterventricular veinparaconal. From these results, it appears thatthe standardvenousfetalbovineheartis predominantlyconfluentthe coronary sinus. Onlyasmall number ofvesselsare directlyconfluentto theright atrium ofbovine heart.(AU)

Morfologia do epidídimo de cobaio (Cavia porcellus) em diferentes fases do desenvolvimento pós-natal / Morphological differentiation of the epididymis of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) at different ages

A evolução morfológica do ducto epididimário de cobaio (Cavia porcellus, L.) foi avaliada nas faixas etárias de 10, 20, 30, 45,60, 70, 90 e 100 dias após o nascimento, mostrando-se complexa, o que é decorrente da própria diferenciação pós-natal do epitélio epididimário. Assim sendo, o segmento inicial epididimário mostrou um aumento de altura epitelial correspondente aos valores médios de alturas das células principais do epitélio tubular, crescente após 45 dias de idade pós-natal. As alturas epiteliais obtidas em nível do segmento médio foram maiores em idades juvenis (de 10 a 45 dias) do que na idade pré-puberal (60 dias), tendo diminuído entre os 70 e 100 dias de idade. No segmento terminal epididimário, verificou-se um decréscimo marcante da altura epitelial tubular a partir da idade puberal (70 dias) até a idade adulta (a partir de 90 dias). Além disso, este segmento apresentou ondulações epiteliais que cessaram aos 70 dias de idade, momento em que a luz tubular se preenche com espermatozoides e esfoliações celulares. Os tipos celulares do epitélio tubular epididimário, células principais, basais e apicais, foram observados em todas as idades. Em epidídimos de animais muito jovens, observou-se a predominância de células colunares indiferenciadas. A partir de 20 dias de idade, houve prevalência natural das células principais sobre os demais tipos celulares, como é peculiar ao epitélio epididimário de mamíferos, de modo geral.(AU)

The morphological evolution of the epididymal duct of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus, L.) was studied on 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 90 and 100 days of age, being complex, which is due to the proper differentiation postnatal in the epididymal epithelium. Thus, it was observed that the initial segment of the epididymis reveals an increase of epithelial height corresponding to the average height of the main tubular epithelium cells, generally progressive after 45 days of age. The epithelial height in the middle segment were higher in younger stages (10 to 45 days) than in the prepubertal age (60 days), and have a decrease among 70 to 100 days of age. The ductular terminal segment starts a gradual decrease of the epithelial heights from puberal age (70 days), until adult age (90 to 100 days). In addition, this segment showed epithelial waviness that disappeared after 70 days of age, when the lumen fills it with sperm and cellular exfoliation. The cell types of the epididymal tubular epithelium, principal cells, basal cells and apical cells, were observed in all ages. In the epididymis of very young animals, there was a predominance of undifferentiated columnar cells. After 20 days of age, there was natural prevalence of the principal cells on other cell types, what is a feature similar to other mammals.(AU)

Variações sazonais na ultra-estrutura do ducto deferente de codorna doméstica (Coturnix coturnix) / Seasonal variability on the ultrastructure of the vas deferens of domestic quail (Coturnix coturnix)

O ducto deferente (DD) de codorna doméstica mostrou variações sazonais na ultra-estrutura do epitélio de revestimento tubular nas quatro estações do ano, sendo, contudo, mais marcantes no outono, que corresponde à fase quiescente, e na primavera, que é a fase ativa do ciclo testicular anual. Durante a quiescência outonal ocorreram redução do calibre e da luz tubular do DD e características de degeneração celular das células principais (P) do epitélio do DD. A fase ativa primaveril mostrou o calibre tubular e a dimensão luminal maiores do DD, ocorrendo grande estoque de material intra-luminal formado principalmente por espermatozoides. A ultra-estrutura do epitélio de revestimento do DD na fase ativa primaveril mostrou variabilidade das organelas citoplasmáticas relacionadas, principalmente, aos processos de síntese proteica e de endocitose. Contudo, foi observada uma maior quantidade de lisossomos no citoplasma apical de células P do DD na fase recrudescente do inverno, assim como uma escassez relativa de organelas citoplasmáticas e presença de células escuras na fase regressiva do verão.(AU)

The vas deferens (VD) of domestic quail showed seasonal variability on the fine structure of the lining tubular epithelium during the four seasons along the year, whose features were marked more relevant in the autumn and spring which respectively corresponded to the quiescent and active phases of the annual testis cycle ("cycle") in this species. During the fall quiescence had been verified tubular reduction of the VD caliber and luminal dimension followed by degenerative features of the principal epithelial cells and lack of luminal content of spermatozoa. Counter wise in the spring active phase of the "cycle" great dimension of the VD caliber and luminal dimension were observed and the luminal content was plenum of material represented prior by spermatozoa. Similar features occurred on the VD fine structure in the summer and winter according to our results. Fine structural features of the VD lining epithelium in the spring showed variability of cytoplasm organelle mainly related to active processes of endocytosis and protein synthesis, although more lysosomal activity was seen on the apical cytoplasm of principal epithelial cells in the recrudescent phase of winter. Moreover, it was verified a relative scarcity of cytoplasm organelle followed by presence of dark epithelial cells in the regressive phase of summer.(AU)

Características regionais sobre a ultra-estrutura das células principais do epitélio do ducto epididimal de Agouti paca / Regional ultra structural features of principal cells from the epididymal epithelium lining of Agouti paca

As células principais (P) do epitélio de revestimento do epidídimo de paca foram relacionadas com processos citofisiológicos de endocitoses do tipo adsortiva e de fase fluida, respectivamente, aparentemente realizando também secreção apócrina. Essas funções foram propostas embasando-se em características de ultra-estrutura das células P, em cujos citoplasma observaram-se um expressivo número de vesículas, com diferentes formas, tamanhos e presença de conteúdo internalizado em algumas das vesículas revestidas por endomembranas, ocorrendo ainda caveolas e vesículas diminutas localizadas junto à borda apical de microvilos. Ademais, observaram-se vesículas grandes e revestidas e/ou com superfícies lisas; endossomos, e lisossomos de localização predominantemente apical. Uma via de secreção apócrina foi sugerida com base na ocorrência de expansões (protrusões), citoplasmáticas intraluminais nas células P.(AU)

The principal (P) cells of epididymidis surface epithelium of Agouti paca were related to processes of adsorptive endocytosis and phase-fluid endocytosis, as well as protein secretion apparently also occur.These findings had been proposed on the base the cytoplasmic ultrastructural features of P cells in which were seen an expressive number of vesicles with several shapes, sizes and internalized content occurring also smaller pits and pale small vesicles located next to the apical brush border of microvilli. Moreover, occurred coated vesicles, smooth surface vesicles and great vesicles; multivesicular bodies, endosomes and lysosomes mainly viewed on supranuclear and apical positions. Presence of an appocrine secretory pathway was characterized in P cells through the occurrence of apical cytoplasmic expansions, protruding into the ducts epididymidis luminal compartment.(AU)

Localização histoquímica de algumas hidrolases no epidídimo do gerbilo / Histochemical localization of some hydrolases in the epididymis of the gerbil

Neste estudo verificou-se, principalmente, que a expressão tissular da FoAl esteve presente nas regiões proximais do epidídimo de gerbilo. As reatividades da FoAc e da ATPase foram intensas (fortes), na maioria das regiões do epidídimo caracterizadas, marcadamente ao nível do citoplasma apical das células do epitélio tubular, exceto no corpo epididimal um delgado ístmo de conexão da cabeça à cauda epidiclimárias nesta espécie, com notória hiporeatividade enzimática a praticamente todas as enzimas aqui estudadas. A SDH mostrou também fraca atividade em todas as regiões, e estruturas do ducto epidiclimário do gerbilo, exceto no compartimento intraluminal onde se verificou atividade SDH-intensa nos espermatozóides estocados no lúmen. As reações enzimáticas caracterizadas foram correlacionadas com alguns papéis histofisiológicos tais como a mediação enzimática das fosfatases e ATPase em processos como endocitose, secreção, absorção e processo de transporte ativo das células do epitélio tubular. Uma possível marcação específica de mitocôndrias da peça média dos espermatozóides intraluminais pela SDH foi sugerida, com embasamento em processos metabólicos das mitocôndrias.(AU)

This study mainly showed that alkaline phosphatase expression had been present in the proximal regions of the epididymidis ductus of the gerbil which comprised the initial segment and proximal caput. The reactivities of acid phosphatase and ATPase were strong in the proximal and clistal regions of the epididymidis ductus at the level of the apical cytoplasm and epithelium, except at the corpus level, a very thin isthmus located between the caput and cauda epididymidis, and as a general rule a low enzymatic reactive region of the epididymidis of gerbil. SDH revealed also low activities in ali the regions and regional structures of the duct, except into the luminal content formed by storaged spermatozoa, prior on the cauda leveI. The enzymes presented in the epididymidis were correlated to some histophysiological roles such as the enzymatic mecliation of endocytosis, secretion, absorption and active transport concerning to phosphatases and A TPase and a possible mitochondrial role of SDH could occur at the spermatozoa level in which the middle pieces were formed by a great amount of mitochondria.(AU)