The uropygial glands of birds are sebaceous organs that contribute to the water-repellent properties of the feather coat. We studied the histological and histochemical characteristics of the uropygial gland of chimango caracara using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Gomori´s trichrome, orcein, Gomori´s reticulin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) and a variety of lectins. The gland is composed of two lobes and a papilla with 20 downy feathers. It is surrounded by a capsule of dense connective tissue that contains elastic, reticular and smooth muscle fibers. The papilla is delicate and has two excretory ducts. The gland mass relative to body mass was 0.143%. Both adenomer cells and their secretions were stained with Sudan IV, PAS and AB, and were positive for numerous lectins that indicated the presence of lipids and carbohydrates. Immunohistochemical techniques to detect PCNA confirmed cell proliferation in the basal stratum of the adenomer cells. The lipids and glycoconjugates secreted by the uropygial gland serve numerous functions including protection against microorganisms.

Tongue keratinocytes have a high mitotic index (MI) with an evident circadian variation. Our study set out to compare and contrast two phases of the cell cycle: DNA synthesis (S-phase), with inmunocytochemical detection by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), and mitosis (M-phase), by the colchicine-arrest of metaphase method, exploring both the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the mouse tongue throughout a circadian period. Adult male mice standardized for light periodicity used for MI experiment were injected intraperitoneally with colchicine. Other animals were injected intraperitoneally with 5-BrdU for S-phase determination. Animals given both treatments were divided into six groups and killed at 4 h intervals until 20:00 h. Tongue samples were processed for histology and immuno-histochemistry. S and M indices were expressed as labelled nuclei or colchicine metaphases, respectively, per 1000 nuclei. Peak MI occurred at 12:00, with the minimum value at 20:00 on dorsal and ventral tongue surfaces. Peak S-phase was at 04:00, whereas the minimum value was at 16:00 for both surfaces. These results show that the proliferative activity of the tongue epithelium is of similar intensity and temporal distribution on both surfaces.

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The aim of the present work was to describe the morphology of the vagina in Lagostomus maximus and to characterize its epithelial cells using morphometric and histochemical techniques (variations of PAS, Alcian blue and lectin histochemistry). Thirty-five sexually mature adult females were captured in their natural environment during four periods of the year and their genital organs were dissected. The vaginal wall of the viscacha has three tunics: mucosa, muscularis and adventitia or serosa according to the region. The epithelium is stratified in both cranial and caudal regions, but its characteristics vary depending on the physiological state. In anestrous, nonpregnant females have a stratified epithelium of two to three cellular layers with columnar PAS-positive superficial mucous cells. During the follicular phase, the epithelium of the vagina is stratified squamous and cornified. Females at early, middle and term pregnancy have a columnar stratified epithelium with mucous cells. Glycoproteins in the mucous cells were detected using PAS, PA*S, KOH/PA*/BH/PAS; and Alcian blue, pH 0.5, pH 1, pH 2.5 and 0.006 M). Lectin histochemistry showed that UEA-I and RCA-1 lectins reacted strongly or moderately with epithelial cells in all stages analyzed. These results indicate the presence of L-fucose and β-galactose. Binding with other lectins was variable.