RESUMO
The African straw-coloured fruit Bat, Eidolon helvum, is a Yinpterochiroptera bat that is of public health and ecological importance. This study investigated the light microscopic morphology, morphometry and histochemistry of the skin and its glands across the cheek, withers, croup, ventral abdomen, perianal region, wing membrane, intercrural membrane and foot pad of the species. Sweat glands were absent and hypodermis was observed only in the withers, croup and ventral abdomen. The croup had the highest density of hair follicles while the perianal region had the highest density of sebaceous gland acini. The thicknesses of the dermis and epidermis were significantly high in the withers and foot pad respectively. Hair follicles and sebaceous glands were absent in the wing membrane. The sebaceous glands had melanin pigmentation at the periphery and stained positive to Alcian Blue-periodic acid Schiff at the withers and ventral abdomen. Epidermal and dermal thicknesses reported in this study were generally higher than those of Yangochiroptera bats and the presence of sebaceous glands and hair follicles in the wing membrane were variable in different bat species. This study has provided baseline information on the light microscopic morphology and morphometry of the skin and its glands across the various body regions in the African straw-coloured fruit bat. This information would be helpful in the understanding, handling, skin disease treatment and management of the bat in captivity for biomedical research purposes.
Assuntos
Quirópteros , Crupe , Animais , Crupe/veterinária , Histocitoquímica/veterináriaRESUMO
The morphology of tongue in straw-coloured fruit bat from tropical forests was evaluated in relation to frugivorous diets and in comparison with other species that consumes other food types. Gross, stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscope and histological methods were used. The tongue was relatively long with round tip, which closely fitted into oral cavity. Five types of mechanical papillae included crown-like and trifid filiform papillae. Also bulky, cone-shaped papillae and long conical papillae were identified. These mechanical types also showed variations in shape, size and number of processes of papillae. Transitional forms of these mechanical papillae were present. Fungiform papillae with taste pores were interposed amongst filiform types in apex and body; three ovoid-shaped vallate papillae were in triangular arrangement on root and displayed taste pores. Some bulky, cone-shaped papillae surrounded the vallate papillae. Histologically, mechanical filiform types showed highly keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and dense connective tissue core with secondary papillae. Taste buds appeared in fungiform and vallate papillae. Neutral and acidic secretions were identified in lingual glands of root. The presence of prominent filamentous processes of filiform papillae and conical papillae of the tongue in conjunction with gustatory papillae ensures adaptation to copious fruit diets. The gross morphometric and histometric parameters of the tongue did not differ remarkably from previous values obtained for some fruit bats with comparable weight. This investigation showed similarities with fruit bats such as large flying fox and Egyptian fruit bat and reflect common diet and feeding habits but varied from insectivorous and nectivorous bats.
Assuntos
Quirópteros , Papilas Gustativas , Animais , Epitélio , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura/veterinária , LínguaRESUMO
The present study examined ultrastructure of the thyroid gland of adult West African Dwarf (WAD) goat in order to further understand the ultrastructural morphology and some of the changes in the components of the thyroid gland in goat with age. Thyroids glands obtained from fifteen adult WAD goats of different ages and sexes slaughtered at the local abattoirs were used in this study. Electron microscopic techniques were used to study the fixed tissue with emphasis on the follicular and parafollicular cells. The results showed that the ultrastructure is generally similar to that of some domestic animals. Follicular cells were cuboidal in young adult goats thyroids but were flattened in older goat thyroids of 57 years. These cells remarkably showed highly dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum which decreased in frequency the older goats. Microvilli were short and sparse on the follicular cells and the number decreased in the older goats. Different sizes of apical vesicles of varying electron density were encountered that included colloid droplets, secretory vesicles and lysosome-like bodies and the appearance of these vesicles changed with age. Parafollicular cells were encountered in the basal position between follicular cells in all thyroids examined. Numerous dense cytoplasmic granules were observed and they were not apparently different from that described in several mammals.
El presente estudio examinó la ultraestructura de la glándula tiroides en cabra enana de África occidental adulta con el objetivo de tener un mejor conocimiento de la morfología y algunos de los cambios en los componentes de esta glándula en cabras de mayor edad. Se estudiaron glándulas tiroides obtenidas de quince cabras adultas de diferentes edades y sexos, sacrificadas en los mataderos locales. Se utilizaron técnicas de microscopía electrónica para estudiar el tejido con énfasis en las células foliculares y para foliculares. Los resultados mostraron que la ultraestructura generalmente era similar a la de algunos animales domésticos. Las células foliculares en la tiroides de cabras adultas jóvenes eran cúbicas, no obstante en cabras adultas de mayor edad (5 a 7 años) se observaron células aplanadas en las tiroides. Estas células mostraron cisternas de retículo endoplasmático rugoso muy dilatadas que disminuyeron en frecuencia en las cabras de más edad. Las microvellosidades eran cortas y escasas en las células foliculares, y el número disminuyó en las cabras de más edad. Se encontraron diferentes tamaños de vesículas apicales y se observaron gotitas coloidales, vesículas secretoras y organismos similares a los lisosomas; la aparición de estas vesículas fue cambiando en cabras de mayor edad. Se encontraron células parafoliculares en posición basal en todas las células foliculares examinadas. Se observaron numerosos gránulos citoplasmáticos densos sin aparente diferencia de aquellos descritos en otros mamíferos.