Gross anatomy of the portal vein and its tributaries in the opossum (Didelphis albiventris).

The gross anatomy of the portal vein (V. portae) and its tributaries was studied through anatomical methods, i.e. dissection, corrosion and diaphanization, in 45 opossums (Didelphis albiventris). In all animals the portal vein was formed by the junction of the cranial mesenteric, caudal mesenteric and lienal veins (V. mesenterica cranialis, V. mesenterica caudalis and V. lienalis, respectively). Many collateral tributaries were observed running into the portal venous trunk.

An ultrastructural study on the endocrine pancreas of Caiman latirostris, with special reference to pancreatic motilin cells.

Pancreatic endocrine cells of Caiman latirostris were investigated by electron microscopy using conventional and immunocytochemical methods. Ultrastructurally, four types of endocrine cells were classified according to the morphology of their secretory granules. Three types of endocrine cells were identified as either glucagon, insulin or somatostatin cells by the presence of such characteristic granules well established in mammals. The remaining endocrine cell type could not be classified by its ultrastructural features alone. Immunocytochemical observations confirmed the ultrastructural classification of glucagon, insulin and somatostatin cells. In addition, endocrine cells immunoreactive for either pancreatic polypeptide (PP) or motilin were identified. Morphometric analysis of PP- and motilin-immunoreactive granules demonstrated that they were the most polymorphous and smallest granules among the pancreatic endocrine cell granules. Although both PP and motilin granules closely resemble each other, motilin granules were smaller in size and more spherical in shape than PP granules.

An immunohistochemical study of the endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa of the Caiman latirostris.

Twelve endocrine cell types immunoreactive for either 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), somatostatin, gastrin, motilin, neurotensin, bovine pancreatic polypeptide (BPP), avian pancreatic polypeptide (APP), pancreatic glucagon, enteroglucagon, glicentin, secretin or cholecystokinin (CCK) were found in gastrointestinal mucosa of Caiman latirostris. Moderate numbers of enteroglucagon-immunoreactive cells, a few 5-HT-, somatostatin- and motilin-immunoreactive cells and rare pancreatic glucagon-immunoreactive cells were found in the fundic stomach. Numerous gastrin-immunoreactive cells and moderate numbers of somatostatin- and motilin-immunoreactive cells were seen in the pyloric stomach. Moderate numbers of 5-HT-, gastrin-, motilin- and enteroglucagon-immunoreactive cells, a few somatostatin-, neurotensin- and BPP-immunoreactive cells, and rare APP-, pancreatic glucagon-, glicentin-, secretin- and CCK-immunoreactive cells were observed in the proximal intestine. Moderate numbers of 5-HT-immunoreactive cells, small to moderate numbers of neurotensin- and enteroglucagon-immunoreactive cells and occasional somatostatin-, motilin- and BPP-immunoreactive cells were seen in the distal intestine. Moderate numbers of neurotensin-immunoreactive cells and a few 5-HT-immunoreactive cells were found also in the cloaca. Cells immunoreactive for gastrin releasing polypeptide, bombesin and gastric inhibitory peptide were not observed in the caiman gastrointestinal epithelium. The differences in endocrine cell types between the caiman and alligator are discussed in terms of their topographic distribution.

[The vesical medial artery, Rauch 1963, of the dog (Canis familiaris)]. / Contribution à l'étude de "l'artère vésicale media, Rauch 1963" du chien (Canis familiaris).

The Authors study 30 adult dogs from both sexes, on the "vesical medial artery--Rauch, 1963" injected with latex through the aorta. They conclude that: 1--the vessel should be named "ventral vesical artery"; 2--it is a sharply defined structure and can't be confused with the "inferior" or "caudal vesical artery"; 3--emerging from the deep femoral artery (A. profunda femoris), caudal epigastric artery (A. epigastrica caudalis), or from the pudendoepigastric trunk (Truncus pudendoepigastricus), the "ventral vesical artery" appeared bilaterally (6.66%); unilaterally to the right (13.33%) and unilaterally to the left (3.33%); 4--when present, the "ventral vesical artery" supplies the ventral area of the bladder (Vesica urinaria) and regional fat, and eventually, gives a few branches to the prostate gland and urethra.

Immunocytochemical study of gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) endocrine cells in the vampire bat (Desmodos rotundus).

The distribution and frequency of gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) endocrine cells were studied in vampire bats by immunocytochemistry. Moderate numbers of somatostatin- and a few 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)- and glucagon-immunoreactive cells were seen in the fundic cecum of the stomach. Numerous gastrin- and moderate numbers of somatostatin- and 5-HT-immunoreactive cells were found in the pyloric region. Moderate numbers of 5-HT-, somatostatin-, and gastrin-immunoreactive cells also were found in BRUNNER's glands. In addition to the above-mentioned 4 immunoreactive cell types, cells immunoreactive for glicentin, secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), and neurotensin were found in the intestine. Numerous insulin-, moderate numbers of somatostatin- and glucagon-, and a few 5-HT-immunoreactive cells were detected in the pancreatic islets with lesser numbers scattered within the exocrine pancreas. Motilin- and pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive cells were not observed in this study.

[The urogenital artery of the adult dog]. / Contribution à l'étude de l'artère urogénitale du chien adulte.

For this study 52 formaldehyde-fixed pelvis from both sexes dogs (Canis familiaris), unknown races and different ages, injected with latex through the aorta, were used. The results were classified in common (A) and uncommon (B, B1, B2 and B3) modalities: A-44 dogs (84.62%; 74.82-94.42%), with emergence of the urogenital artery from the visceral branch of the hypogastric artery; B-5 dogs (9.62%; 2.70-22.10%), where the vessel arises from the umbilical artery. In this manner, the intrapelvic organs (ureter, deferent duct, bladder, prostate and urethra in male, and ureter, bladder, urethra, uterus and vagina in female) are supplied with blood through the urogenital and umbilical arteries, and urethral branch, as well as the cranial and ventral vesical arteries to the bladder.

[Considerations on the renal lobes in Gallus gallus, Indian River]. / Considérations sur les lobes rénales de Gallus gallus--Indian River.

Textbooks and articles do not provide sufficient descriptions of the fowl kidney, mainly the renal lobes and their measurements. The observations of the renal lobes was carried out in 40 fowls (Gallus gallus), Indian River, 27 females and 13 males, with different ages (Grupe I: one month; Grupe II: 2 months and Grupe III: more than 3 months). We have observed that: a) there is a relative assymetry on the form and position of the renal lobes; b) the cranial lobe is the most large and the middle, the most long; and c) averages about the lobes, in relation to the both antimeres and length-width, are recorded.

Study of the venous drainage of the thyroid gland in dogs (Canis familiaris).

The authors studied the venous drainage of the thyroid gland in about 30 adult dogs without specific race of both sexes. The study was conducted using Neoprene Latex previously stained with specific pigment injected into cervical venous system, following, after fixation, dissection with disarmed eye or under dissecting microscope (10x). When necessary the cases observed showed 90% more than one venous branch in each glandular pole: 70% one ima thyroid vein and 70% one thyroid venous arch (laringeal); about 50% of dissecting cases drainage exclusively the thyroid gland, whereas the others 50% are responsible for the drainage of surrounding structures.

[Morphology of the epithelial cells of the epididymal duct of the south american oppossum (Didelphis azarae) (author's transl)]. / Morphologie des céllules épithéliales due canal de l'épididyme de l'opossum (sarigue) sud-américain (Didelphis azarae).

5 cellular types were identified in the epithelium lining the epididymal duct of the opossum (Didelphis azarae): principal cells, clear, basal, apical and intraepithelial lymphocytes, similar to the epididymal duct of the rat. Morphological aspects of these cells are described in the present paper, at the optical microscope level.

Arterial pattern of the spleen in the domestic fowl.

The authors describe the variations on the origin, number and vascularization areas of the splenic artery of 50 fowls, 34 males and 16 females, Gallus gallus, Indian River, of different ages, with medium weight of 2.133 g. The results were expressed in relative percentage figures and compared with the literature cited.