Epididymis of Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus): A Morphological Comparative Study in Relation to Sexual Maturity.

The morphological variations and the androgen receptor (AR) expression were studied in viscacha epididymis in relation to sexual maturity. The animals were divided into immature, pre-pubertal and adult, according to their corporal weight and testicular histology. The epididymides were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry for AR and morphometric analysis. In pre-pubertal and adult animals, four well-differentiated segments (initial, caput, corpus and cauda) were observed, while in immature animals, three segments were identified (initial-caput segment, corpus and cauda). In each segment, the structural parameters and the relative cell distribution were different between the groups. The serum testosterone levels of pre-pubertal and adults showed a very significant increase related to sexual maturity. The AR expression in epithelial and fibromuscular stromal cells was different between the groups. In conclusion, the present work demonstrates that the morphological characteristics of the viscacha epididymis vary while sexual maturity is reached, the development of initial and caput is subsequent to corpus and cauda development and the androgens might play an important role during this process.

Effects of Photoperiod on Epididymal and Sperm Morphology in a Wild Rodent, the Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus).

The viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus) is a seasonal South American wild rodent. The adult males exhibit an annual reproductive cycle with periods of maximum and minimum gonadal activity. Four segments have been identified in the epididymis of this species: initial, caput, corpus, and cauda. The main objective of this work was to relate the seasonal morphological changes observed in the epididymal duct with the data from epididymal sperm during periods of activity and gonadal regression using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under light and electron microscopy, epididymal corpus and cauda showed marked seasonal variations in structural parameters and in the distribution of different cellular populations of epithelium. Initial and caput segments showed mild morphological variations between the two periods. Changes in epididymal sperm morphology were observed in the periods analyzed and an increased number of abnormal gametes were found during the regression period. During this period, anomalies were found mainly in the head, midpiece, and neck, while in the activity period, defects were found only in the head. Our results confirm that the morphological characteristics of the epididymal segments, as well as sperm morphology, undergo significant changes during the reproductive cycle of Lagostomus.

Diversidade e uso de recursos medicinais do carrasco na APA da Serra da Ibiapaba, Piauí, Nordeste do Brasil / Diversity and use of medicinal resources of "carrasco" in the EPA of Serra da Ibiapaba, Piauí, Northeast Brazil

O presente estudo foi realizado na Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra da Ibiapaba no município de Cocal, Piauí. Objetivou-se realizar o levantamento das plantas utilizadas pela comunidade, das partes usadas, das indicações, das formas de uso e de administração dessas plantas. Foram realizadas 80 entrevistas com 100% dos moradores de notório saber, residentes no município que utilizavam e/ou comercializavam plantas de uso medicinal. Para definição da amostra utilizou-se o método de bola de neve. Em incursões guiadas por membros da comunidade, foram coletadas as etnoespécies citadas. Após essa etapa, as espécies foram identificadas em laboratório e calculado o Fator de Consenso dos Informantes (FCI) para cada categoria de doença. O material foi incorporado ao acervo do Herbário Graziela Barroso (TEPB/UFPI). Foram identificadas 76 espécies, distribuídas em 61 gêneros e 36 famílias. Sobresairam-se Leguminosae com 22 espécies (28,9%), seguida por Euphorbiaceae com 6 (7,8%), e Solanaceae 4 (5,2%). Os gêneros Croton L. e Hymenaea L. obtiveram o maior destaque, somando 8 (10,5%) do total de espécies. As espécies mais presentes nas indicações de uso foram Ximenia americana com 14 (5,9%), Tabebuia impetiginosa com 9 (3,9%) e Anacardium occidentale com 7 (2,9%). Observou-se que 80,5% dos entrevistados tinham mais de 50 anos e residiam no município a mais de 20 anos, sendo que 70% possuíam apenas ensino fundamental incompleto e 20 % eram analfabetos. Houve maior consenso entre os informantes para tratamento das doenças do sistema respiratório (0,66) e do aparelho digestório (0,65). A maioria das indicações de usos 81 (34,17%) relatados para 28 (36,8%) das espécies visavam curar males do sistema respiratório, tais como asma, bronquite, gripe, inflamação na garganta, pneumonia e sinusite. Para o preparo dos remédios, as partes mais utilizadas foram as cascas (30,5%), as folhas (29,4%) e as raízes (12,6%). As preparações mais comuns foram os chás, garrafadas e lambedores, administrados por via oral. Os resultados sinalizaram para a importância do potencial bioativo da vegetação do carrasco.

The present study was carried out in the Environmental Protection Area of Serra da Ibiapaba, in Cocal Municipality, Piauí. The study aimed to perform a survey of the plants used by the community, including used parts, recommended use, forms of use and administration of these plants. A total of 80 interviews were done with 100% of denizens with noteworthy knowledge who lived in that municipality and used and/or commercialized plants of medicinal use. To define the sample the snowball method was adopted. In tours guided by members of the community, the cited ethnospecies were collected. After this stage, the species were identified in the laboratory and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was calculated for each disease category. The material was incorporated in the collection of Herbarium Graziela Barroso (TEPB/UFPI). A total of 76 species were identified, distributed into 61 genera and 36 families. Leguminosae was the major family with 22 species (28.9%), followed by Euphorbiaceae with 6 (7.8%) and Solanaceae with 4 (5.2%). Croton L. and Hymenaea L. were the most important genera, comprising 8 (10.5%) of the total species. The species most commonly recommended for medicinal use were Ximenia americana with 14 (5.9%), Tabebuia impetiginosa with 9 (3.9%) and Anacardium occidentale with 7 (2.9%). The age of 80.5% of the interviewees was over 50 years and they had been living in the municipality for more than 20 years, while 70% had only incomplete elementary education and 20% were illiterate. There was greater consensus among the informants for treatment of respiratory diseases (0.66) and problems of the digestive system (0.65). The most common recommendation of use, 81 (34.17%), reported for 28 (36.8%) of the species, aimed to cure problems of the respiratory system, such as asthma, bronchitis, influenza, inflammation of the throat, pneumonia, and sinusitis. In the preparation of medicines, the parts most commonly used were the bark (30.5%), the leaves (29.4%) and the roots (12.6%). The most common preparations were tea, balm and lickers, administered orally. The results indicated the importance of the bioactive potential of "carrasco" vegetation.

Anatomical, histological and immunohistochemical study of the reproductive system accessory glands in male viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus).

The anatomy, histology and androgen receptor immunohistochemistry of the prostate (P), seminal vesicles (SV), bulbourethral and coagulant gland (CG) were studied in male viscacha, a seasonally reproductive wild rodent. Two histologically well-defined zones, peripheral and central, were identified in the prostate, according to their relationship with the urethra. The epithelial cells were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive in the central zone and alcian blue negative in the two zones. The SV are a paired gland, tubular, of tortuous aspect and formed by radial layers. The bulbourethral glands were paired, formed by tubuloalveolar acini and surrounded by a thick layer of skeletal muscle. The CG was multilobulated. The large adenomers showed PAS-positive epithelium and were negative to alcian blue. Androgen receptors in the P, SV and coagulating gland showed variations in their distribution with immunohistochemistry heterogeneous pattern. Finally, the reproductive system accessory glands of male viscacha may be considered as a novel and interesting model for the study of seasonal reproduction in photoperiod-dependent animals.