Epidermal glands in Squamata: microscopical examination of precloacal glands in Amphisbaena alba (Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae).

The femoral or cloacal region of many species of lizards and amphisbaenians exhibits epidermal glands. The pores of these glands are plugged with holocrine solid secretions that serve as semiochemical sources. Many authors assume that these glands are mainly associated with reproduction and demarcation of territory. The structure of precloacal glands in Amphisbaena alba was previously studied by Antoniazzi et al. (Zoomorphology 113:199-203, 1993; J. Morphol. 221:101-109, 1994). These authors suggested that as the animal moves inside tunnels, the secretion plugs are abraded against the substrate, releasing a secretion trail. Some aspects of the plug were difficult to interpret in fine sections due to the dense and brittle nature of the plug. The morphology of the trail, and the manner of deposition on the substrate, have never been reported. This study presents a primarily scanning electron microscopic description of A. alba precloacal glands and of the secretion plugs. It also demonstrates experimentally the formation of the trail and its fine morphology. The results show that when the plugs scrape against the substrate, their constitution helps them to fragment into tiny pieces, which are spread on the ground, thus forming a trail. Each one of the fragments corresponds to a secretion granule of the precloacal gland's secretory cells. In this way, the trail might have an extensive area for volatilization of semiochemicals, constituting an efficient means of intraspecific communication inside the tunnels.

Apocrine sweat glands in the circumanal glands of the dog.

Apocrine sweat glands in the circumanal glands of the dog are not connected morphologically with the lobules of the circumanal glands. However, an apparent functional association has been demonstrated and it is possible that the apocrine sweat glands might serve as excretory ducts for degenerated polyhedral cells of the circumanal glands. In this study, we examined the ultrastructure of the apocrine sweat glands in the circumanal glands of the dog in an effort to define more precisely the relationship between the apocrine sweat glands and the circumanal glands. Paraffin sections stained with azan and sections after immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against actin were examined by light microscopy. Samples fixed by aldehyde perfusion were examined with the electron microscope. Diameters of apocrine sweat glands and height of cells in the secretory epithelium varied considerably. Immunohistochemical staining for actin was weakly positive in the supranuclear regions of secretory cells and very intense in myoepithelial cells. In secretory cells, the endoplasmic reticulum was well-developed. Multivesicular bodies were abundant and were discharged into lumens. Apocrine secretion and exocytosis were observed at luminal surfaces of secretory cells. There were three types of large granule in the cytoplasm: giant mitochondria without cristae; membrane-enclosed globules with or without myelin-like contents; and electron-dense, homogeneous, globular structures. Luminal surfaces were always covered with microvilli, and extensive folding of the cell membrane was found in basal regions. Bundles of actin filaments were dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. In the lumens of apocrine tubules, we observed shed secretory cells with well-preserved normal fine structures. We also noted the differentiation of secretory cells that was due to cell renewal. Apocrine sweat glands in the circumanal glands of the dog appear to be more active than those on the general body surface in terms of apocrine secretion, exocytosis, and the release of multivesicular bodies. Shed secretory cells containing large granules, as well as degenerated polyhedral cells from the circumanal glands, might contribute, to some extent, to the subtle composition of sweat from these apocrine sweat glands.

Scanning electron microscopy of the final phase of the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi in the insect vector.

Scanning electron micrographs showed that both epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi are attached by the flagellum to the epithelium of the rectal gland of Triatoma dimidiata. The flagellates tended to cover the surface of the gland and there was a marked predominance of epimastigotes with a round posterior end. Reproduction and metacyclogenesis seem to take place in situ, the latter apparently by twisting and elongation of the epimastigotes. Metatrypomastigotes remain attached for some time, probably by a weaker mechanism which easily allows them to loosen, facilitating expulsion with the urine or feces.

Peroxisomes in sebaceous glands. III. Morphological similarities of peroxisomes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi stacks in the circumanal gland of the dog.

In the canine circumanal gland, the morphological alterations of peroxisomes during differentiation and maturation of the glandular cells were studied by electron microscopy, cytochemistry and freeze-etch technique. Each of the following three cell types has its own characteristic peroxisomal population: 1) The basal cell contains only a few small peroxisomes, which appear as spherical and tubular profiles showing strong DAB reaction. In the differentiating basal cells, these are joined by a few dilated, hemispherical organelles with intensely stained small marginal plates. 2) In the intermediate cell, additional to spherical and tubular peroxisomes, numerous elongated organelles with distinct marginal plates are observed, displaying weak catalase activity. 3) In the mature cell, dumbbell-shaped peroxisomes with enlarged marginal plates predominate. Serial section analysis and freeze-etching studies reveal that these dilated particles are of erythrocyte-like shape. They exhibit very weak catalase activity or do not contain any visible DAB reaction product. In their flattened, thin central portions, the membranes enclose the marginal plates and form straight cisternae, which are closely associated with adjacent fenestrated cisternae of ER on both sides, referred to as paramarginal cisternae. Dumbbell-shaped peroxisomes with their corresponding paramarginal cisternae form large peroxisome-ER-complexes. Furthermore, three to five dumbbell-shaped particles are often stacked in parallel. Only at their flat poles are the organelles in close contact with paramarginal cisternae. The observation of continuities, in particular between erythrocyte-like organelles and tubular peroxisomes in mature glandular cells, indicates the existence of a peroxisomal compartment composed of two segments in the mature stage. In freeze-etch replicas of mature glandular cells, only the dilated segments of the peroxisomal compartment can be easily recognized because of their unusual size and erythrocyte-like shape. Additionally, on the E-face of their central portion, a straight, square or rectangular area with a distinct crystalline pattern is seen, which corresponds to the marginal plate. These findings indicate that the circumanal gland of the dog offers a unique possibility to analyze the biological properties of a well-defined peroxisomal compartment.

Comparative ultrastructural study of normal, adenomatous, carcinomatous, and hyperplastic cells of canine hepatoid circumanal gland.

Transmission electron and light microscopy studies were carried out on morphologic characteristics of cellular organelles of normal and different neoplastic cells of hepatoid circumanal glands of 16 dogs. The ultrastructural features of the reserve and transitional cells in the adenomas and carcinomas are highly suggestive of different carcinogenic stimuli for each form of hepatoid circumanal gland neoplasm. The reserve cells, in response to the carcinogenic stimuli, appear to be growing at the expense of the degenerating glandular cells.

The cloaca of Myxine glutinosa (Cyclostomata): a scanning electron microscopical and histochemical investigation.

The cloaca of Myxine glutinosa was examined by histochemical and scanning electron microscopical methods. No copulation organ could be found in Myxine and no detectable differences in the anatomy of the cloaca between male and female Myxine glutinosa. The anal gland which is the only gland in the cloacal region is situated between rectum and ductus coelomaticus. Like the lateral mucous glands in the epidermis it consists of large mucous gland cells, thread cells and undifferentiated cells. The cloacal epithelium neither develops a spatial separation by folds nor a ciliation is present in the caudal and dorsal part of the cloacal chamber. Therefore female and male myxinoides do not show any structures which would allow transportation of sperm into the abdominal cavity or out of it.