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The study investigated the gross and microscopic anatomy of the genital organs of 20 agoutis at different stages of the estrous cycle and four in the final trimester of pregnancy. Specimens were euthanized and their reproductive organs were fixed in a 4% paraformaldehyde or 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution and submitted to routine histological techniques for light and scanning electron microscopy. In the ovary, during the proestrus phase, we observed developing follicles and corpus luteum (CL) in regression; during estrus, there were Graafian follicles; during metestrus, there was a hemorrhagic corpus, whereas in diestrus, there was a mature CL. The uterus was partially double because the cervix was cranially septate but caudally, the septum disappeared, forming a single ostium that opened into the vagina. Changes occurred along the estrous cycle in the uterine and vaginal epithelia, that is, an increase in the uterine epithelium height accompanied by an increase of thickness of the vaginal epithelium during the follicular phase and a decrease of thickness of both epithelia during the luteal phase. The endometrial lining was composed of a simple cuboidal epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with basal nuclei. The vaginal mucosa consisted of epithelium that varied from nonkeratinized stratified squamous (luteal phase) to keratinized stratified squamous (follicular phase). The clitoris was external to the vagina. It presented two protruding lateral keratinized spicules and a centralized urethra, with no common parts between the urinary and genital tracts. Anatomical and histological changes were observed mainly in the cervix, vagina and spicules of the clitoris during the EC.

Exogenous eCG for stimulation of a single dominant follicle or for superovulation are common strategies to improve reproductive efficiency by increasing pregnancy rates and embryo production, respectively. Morphofunctional changes in the CL of eCG-treated cattle include increases in CL volume and plasma progesterone concentrations. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that eCG alters the content of luteal cells and mitochondria related to hormone production. Twelve crossbred beef cows were synchronized and then allocated into three groups (four cows per group) and received no further treatment (control) or were given eCG either before or after follicular deviation (superovulation and stimulation of the dominant follicle, respectively). Six days after ovulation, cows were slaughtered and CL collected for morphohistologic and ultrastructural analysis. Mitochondrial volume per CL was highest in superovulated followed by stimulated and then control cows (18,500 ± 2630, 12,300 ± 2640, and 7670 ± 3400 μm(3); P < 0.001), and the density of spherical mitochondria and the total number of large luteal cells were increased (P < 0.05) in stimulated cows compared with the other two groups (110.32 ± 14.22, 72.26 ± 8.77, and 70.46 ± 9.58 mitochondria per μm(3) and 678 ± 147, 245 ± 199, and 346 ± 38 × 10(6) cells, respectively. However, the largest diameters of the large luteal cells were increased in superovulated and control cows versus stimulated ones (32.32 ± 0.06, 31.59 ± 0.81, and 29.44 ± 0.77 μm; P < 0.0001). In contrast, the total number of small luteal cells was increased in superovulated cows (1456 ± 268, 492 ± 181, and 822 ± 461 × 10(6), P < 0.05). In conclusion, there were indications of cellular changes related to increased hormonal production (stimulatory treatment) and increased CL volume (superovulatory treatment).

ResumoOrigem do plexo lombossacral em Galea spixii (Wagler, 1831) (Rodentia, Caviidae). O preá silvestre é um roedor pertencente à família Caviidae presente na região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil. Foram utilizados 20 preás que vieram a óbito por causas naturais, obtidos no Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres (CEMAS) da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA). Os animais foram ixados em solução aquosa de formaldeído a 10% e, após 48 h, foram dissecados para visualização do plexo. As relações topográicas do plexo lombossacral foram agrupadas em tabelas e, posteriormente, submetidas a análises estatísticas (teste do qui-quadrado com correção de Yates). O plexo lombossacral originou-se das raízes ventrais dos três últimos nervos lombares e dos três primeiros nervos sacrais, correspondendo a 65% dos animais estudados (L 5 L 6 L 7 S 1 S 2 S 3 ). Originam-se do plexo os nervos: femoral, obturatório, isquiático, glúteo cranial, glúteo caudal e pudendo. Palavras-chave:Anatomia; Nervos; Preá; Roedor; Sistema nervoso AbstractThe yellow-toothed cavy is a rodent belonging to the Caviidae family that inhabits the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. We used 20 cavies that had died of natural causes, obtained from the Reproduction Center of Wild Animals (CEMAS) of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA). The animals were ixed in aqueous solution of 10% formaldehyde and, after 48 hours, they were dissected to visualize plexus. The topographic relations of the lumbosacral plexus were grouped into tables and then they underwent statistical analysis (chi-square test with Yates' correction). The lumbosacral plexus stemmed from the ventral roots of the last 3 lumbar nerves and the irst 3 sacral nerves, corresponding to 65% of the animals under study (L 5 L 6 L 7 S 1 S 2 S 3 ). These nerves stemmed from plexus: femoral, obturator, ischiatic, cranial gluteal, caudal gluteal, and pudendal.

Introduction: The present study aimed to establish the staining protocol for quantification of elastic fibers and muscle fibers in arterial vessels through the Verhoeff method adapted with eosin in Chelonia mydas. Materials and Methods: Aorta and pulmonary arteries of 11 individuals of the species Chelonia mydas were used. The fragments were fixed in formaldehyde solution buffered 10% for 24 hours, subjected to routine histological processing and staining technique to be adapted Verhoeff, take the photografies and analyzed by Image Pro Plus Software. Results: The combination of ferric hematoxylin Verhoeff use blushed black elastic arteries blades, already eosin stained muscle fibers and collagen, allowing the tissue quantification through distinction staining by software. Conclusion: The protocol is a low-cost alternative that facilitate the acquisition of morphometric data for research with turtles.