Seasonal variations in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of the African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum).

The study investigated seasonal changes in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of Eidolon helvum in a typical African tropical environment. Seminal vesicles of forty-eight bats were examined during the early rainy, late rainy and peak dry seasons, using gross anatomical, histological and ultrastructural techniques. The interlobular connective tissue septa from the external capsule demarcated the glandular parenchyma into numerous lobules of tubulo-alveolar glands. A simple cuboidal epithelium of mono- or bi-nucleated cuboidal cells lined the glandular mucosa during the rainy season. This was replaced by a bistratified cuboidal epithelium, whose upper layer of cells showed evidence of degeneration, during the dry season. The PAS-positive secretory products appeared to be numerous during the rainy season, but few and clumped together during the dry season. The mean gross weight, interlobular septal thickness, acini diameter and epithelial height of the glands varied significantly with season. Ultrastructural features of the secretory cells during the rainy season showed well-developed cytoplasmic organelles, numerous electron lucid secretory vesicles and electron-dense granules. Secretory epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles are very active during the rainy season, while regeneration of degenerated epithelium in preparation for the next reproductive cycle occurs during the dry season.

Histology, ultrastructure, and seasonal variations in the bulbourethral gland of the African straw-colored fruit bat Eidolon helvum.

We studied the morphological characteristics and seasonal changes of the bulbourethral gland of Eidolon helvum in a typical African tropical environment. Forty-eight bulbourethral glands were examined using gross anatomical, histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural techniques during the early rainy, late rainy, and peak dry seasons. The pear-shaped bilateral bulbourethral glands were located extra-abdominally in the inguinal region. Trabeculae from the capsule divided the parenchyma into numerous lobules of tubuloalveolar glandular acini. The mucosa was covered by a simple columnar epithelium consisting up of principal secretory cells, columnar dense cells and basal cells, which were progressively pronounced during the dry season. The principal cells contained eosinophilic granules, which were PAS positive while the dense cells did not show affinity for the stains. The mean gross weights, acini diameters, and epithelial heights were greater during the rainy season than the dry season. Ultrastructural evaluation showed that the cytoplasm of the principal cells contained well-developed Golgi complexes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and secretory vesicles of varying electron densities and sizes. The secretory vesicles were numerous during the early rainy season, decreased during the late rainy season and were scanty during the peak dry season. The simple columnar epithelium observed during the rainy season was replaced by an undefined stratified epithelium during the dry season, and this was associated with cellular degenerations and regenerations. In conclusion, E. helvum has a typical mammalian bulbourethral gland, with a unique cell type, the dense cell whose functions are not well-understood. The gland exhibits cyclical seasonal variation in structure and secretory activity; being active during the early rainy season (breeding season), and showing the lowest activity during the dry season (non-breeding season). Glandular epithelial cell renewal occurs during the dry season in preparation for the next breeding season.

Osteocyte viability and bone density in cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis ameliorated with Pilostigma thonningii stem bark-extracted D-3-O-methy-chiroinositol.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the ameliorative effect of D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol, isolated from the stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii, on cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-six rats were assigned to three treatment groups (n = 12). Group A (2 mL distilled water), group B: (2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl2) and group C: (2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl2 and D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol 2 mg/kg b.w.). Bone ash, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and zinc content, as well as bone histological changes were determined at the end of months 1, 2, and 3. RESULTS: There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the weight of the cervical, tibia, and femoral bones in all groups. The serum concentration of CdCl2 was significantly different across the three groups with time. There was significant variation (P < 0.005) in the mean bone ash across groups. The concentration of OH-proline was significantly different (P < 0.0001) across groups. There were significant differences (P < 0.0001) in bone calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus concentrations. Histology revealed high levels of bone mineralisation in the CdCl2-treated group, indicative of osteoporosis with hypertrophied osteocytes, while the femur of Wistar rats treated with D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol showed bone trabeculae and viable osteocytes. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol extract from Piliostigma thionningii stem bark ameliorated cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats.

Evaluation of the morphological features of the uterine tubes during postnatal development in West African Dwarf goats (Capra hircus).

The objective of this study was to highlight the postnatal development of the uterine tubes of the West African Dwarf goat from birth to 28 weeks of age by gross examination and light microscopy. There was a caudal migration of the paired uterine tubes from behind the paired kidneys at birth to the pelvic inlet at week 8 of age. Each uterine tube exhibited three segments namely; infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus. A marked flexure, the utero-tubal junction, was the point at which the uterine tubes joined the uterine horns. The length and absolute weight of the uterine tubes increased from 4.95 ± 0.28 cm and 0.02 ± 0.01 g at birth to 14.98 ± 2.79 cm and 0.22 ± 0.03 g at week 28 of age, respectively. The mucosa of the infundibulum and the ampulla showed long, branched and anastomosing primary, secondary and tertiary mucosal folds which decreased in height towards the isthmus. The mucosal folds within the isthmus were short and lacked the anastomosing pattern. The epithelia of all three segments were pseudostratified columnar. Numerous secretory blebs and extruded nuclei became apparent from week 16 of age. The thickness of the tunica muscularis varied with the segments.