The fine structure of the swine sweat gland. II. The coiled ducts.

The duct of the swine sweat gland crosses the dermis and epidermis in sequence. The cells of the dermic segment seem to be related with cellular secretion and absorption. In the epidermic segment of the duct the whole morphology of the cells resembles the cellular morphology of the epidermic cells.

The fine structure of the swine sweat gland. I. The acini.

The structure of the acini in the swine sweat gland is described here at the TEM level. The acini of the sweat gland in the pig is formed by 2 secretory cell types: dark seromucous cells and clear cells. The dark seromucous cells are actively secretory and their secretion is apocrine. The clear cells seem to be involved in an active transport of water and electrolytes through their cytoplasms.

Fine structure of the interstitium of the epididymis of the South American Opossum (Didelphis azarae, Marsupialia).

The interstitial space of the ductus epididymidis of the opossum (D. azarae), contains fibers and cell elements of the connective tissue, smooth muscle cells and amyelinic nerve fibers. This structure, studied through TEM, is similar to the fine structure of the interstitium of the epididymis in rodents. However, the normal occurrence of mast cells in the interstitial space of the ductus epididymidis in opossum, seems to be a peculiar morphological characteristic of this species.

Fine structure of principal and basal cells of the cauda epididymidis of the South American opossum (Didelphis azarae).

The aim of the study was to investigate cytological characteristics of principal and basal cells, at the ultrastructural level, in the cauda epididymidis of the opossum. Adult sexually mature opossums were used. Signs of pinocytosis and absorption and secretion were seen in both cells. These functions and the fine structure of the principal and basal cells of this marsupial are discussed comparatively with the fine structure of these cells in the epididymidis of eutherian mammals.

Subcellular structure of the luminal content of the cauda epididymidis of the opossum (Didelphis azarae).

The luminal content of the cauda epididymidis of the opossum has been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The content is represented by single and paired spermatozoa. Subcellular features of both spermatozoa and their cytological components have been described on the basis of the morphology of spermatozoa in the epididymis of other metatherian forms.

[Regional histology of the epididymis in the South American opossum. Light microscope study]. / Histologie Régionale de l'épididyme chez l'opossum sud américain. Etude de microscopie optique.

The opossum epididymis was subdivided into 7 histologically distinct zones. 2 zones are localized into the head (initial segment or zone I and zone II); 3 zones into the body (zones III, IV and V), and 2 zones into the tail (zones VI and VII). It was found that each zone could be readily distinguished on the basis of its histological and cytological features at optical microscopic level and primarily on the basis of the morphological appearance of the principle cells.

Effect of insulin on vaginal epithelium cells from castrated female rats. II. Studies on exfolative cytology.

The effect of insulin (single subcutaneous injection, 3 IU/100 g body weight) on the vaginal epithelium cells of female adult castrated rats was studied. An increase in nuclear volume and modification of the cytological picture suggesting an activation of cellular metabolism were observed. This anabolic effect of insulin is observed in other cells of the organism, and is not confined to vaginal epithelium cells.