The objective of this study was to provide information on the histological characteristics of the gonads of male and female Armases rubripes crabs, and to try to establish a relationship between the microscopic and macroscopic stages previously identified. Thirty-six crabs were collected by hand between February 2003 and January 2004 in banks of Spartina alterniflora on Sahy Beach in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The histological analysis of the ovaries of A. rubripes demonstrated a gradual process of development of the oocytes. According to their cellular characteristics, five types of cells were distinguished: oogonia, oocyte I, oocyte II, oocyte III and oocyte IV. The ovaries showed four stages during gonadal activity: stage I (rudimentary), stage II (developing or maturing), stage III (developed or mature) and stage IV (resting). The results of the histochemical analyses showed that the ovaries vary according to the gonad development stage. The histological aspect of one section of the male gonad was always the same in all of the seminiferous tubules, where the lumen of these tubules always contained spermatozoa and/or spermatids. It was not possible to characterize the three stages of gonad development in the males. This agrees with previous reports in the literature. However, in the females there was a relationship between the gonad stages distinguished macroscopically and the results obtained through the histological and histochemical analysis, due to the presence of different cell types, as well as the lysis process and reabsorption of the oocytes in spent females.Keywords: crab, gonadal development, histochemistry, Sesarmidae. Análise histológica e histoquímica do desenvolvimento gonadal de machos e fêmeas deArmases rubripes (Rathbun, 1897) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Sesarmidae)

Morphology studies provide knowledge that allows us to understand how animals interact with their natural environment or in captivity. In this context, comparative anatomy on the formation of the brachial plexus has been a matter of interest since the 19th century, and remains one of the most intriguing topics of contemporary anatomy. The aim of this study was to describe the origin and the antimeric distribution of the brachial plexus nerves in Macaca mulatta, as well as the muscles innervated by it. Ten male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were used. Animals came from the Laboratory Animals Breeding Centre (Cecal/Fiocruz), and were donated to the Animal Anatomy Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Specimens were fixed in formaldehyde by infusion of a 10% solution. They were subsequently kept in low-density polythene containers with 500 L of 30% formaldehyde over a period of 12 months. In 11 plexus (55%) the resulting nerves were constituted by the connections between the ventral spinal branches C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1. In five plexus (25%), the participant roots were C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In two (10%) plexus, they were C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In the other two (10%) plexus it was observed to be formed from C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. The ventral branches formed three nerve trunks: cranial, middle and caudal. The suprascapular, subscapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves innervated the intrinsic muscles. The subclavian, thoracodorsal, medial cutaneous nerve of the arm and forearm, long thoracic, cranial pectoral and caudal pectoral innervated extrinsic muscles. Results obtained in this study contribute to the field of comparative anatomy of primates, and provide information for applied research, serving as a basis for clinical and surgical procedures that use this species as a model animal.

ABSTRACT. Histology and histochemical characterization of the digestive tract of Pimelodus maculatus (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) in Funil reservoir, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Histological structures of the digestive traits of Pimelodus maculatus La Cepède, 1803, in the Funil reservoir (22º30'-22º35'S; 44º35'-44º40'W) were described using haematoxilin-eosin (HE), trichome Gomori, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 techniques. The main aim of this study was to detect the levels of glycoproteins (GPs) in the mucous tunic based in histochemical techniques and to characterize eventual alteration in the digestive tract of this species in a polluted system. Fifty-four adult individuals collected between April-2003 and July-2004 (TL=19-38 cm) were examined. The mucosa showed longitudinal folds in the buccopharyngeal cavity, with a stratified squamous epithelium. The oesophagus showed epithelium similar to buccopharyngeal cavity, with a predominance of mucous cells, which reacted strongly with the used methods. The stomach showed three regions: cardic, fundic and pyloric. The mucous tunic is continuously revested by a single cylindrical epithelium which showed positive reaction to AB and PAS only at the apical cells surface. The proper tunic has tubular glands that ramify gradatively, being a cellular type named oxyntopeptic, related to chloridric acid and pepsinogenic cells synthesis. The intestine showed vilosities, with the mucous tunic revested by a single cylindrical epithelium with striated planure and caliciform cells. The duodenum submucosa layer was located at the coledocum opening, as a single cylindrical epithelium lacking caliciforms cells, reacting positively with both PAS and AB. The eutrophic environment of Funil reservoir did not seem to influence morphologic patterns of the structures (oesophagus, stomach and intestine) and no modification was observed in the mucous cells activity. KEYWORDS.Morphology, glycoproteins, fishes, Pimelodidae. RESUMO. As estruturas teciduais do trato gastrintestinal dePimelodus maculatus La Cepède, 1803, do reservatório de Funil (22º30'-22º35'S; 44º35'-44º40'W) foram descritas através das técnicas de hematoxilina-eosina (HE), tricômico Gomori, ácido Periódico de Schiff (PAS) e alcian blue (AB) pH 2,5. Objetivou-se a detecção de glicoproteínas (GPs) na mucosa através de uma análise histoquímica e caracterização de possíveis alterações ao longo do trato digestório destes peixes neste sistema de elevado grau de alteração. Cinqüenta e quatro indivíduos adultos, coletados entre abril de 2003 e julho de 2004 (CT=19-38 cm) foram utilizados. Na cavidade bucofaríngea, a mucosa apresenta-se com pregas longitudinais e o epitélio é do tipo estratificado pavimentoso. O esôfago apresenta o mesmo tipo de epitélio da cavidade bucofaríngea, destacando-se a predominância de células mucosas que tiveram forte reação aos métodos utilizados. O estômago foi diferenciado em região cárdica, fúndica e pilórica. A mucosa é continuamente revestida por um epitélio simples cilíndrico que...

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ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to examine the tracheal structure of the crocodile Caiman latirostris using light microscopy, histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. The tracheal epithelium of C. latirostris consists of a ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells. The respiratory epithelium also includes endocrine cells immunoreactive to serotonin. The histochemical techniques demonstrated the presence of neutral and sulphated mucins secreted by goblet cells. The lamina propria consists of connective tissue with many reticular fibres. The elastic fibres are interspersed among collagen bundles, forming the border between the mucosa and the submucosa. The submucosal layer consists of connective tissue similar to that found in the lamina propria. Serous or mucous glands were not observed. The predominant characteristic in the adventitia is the presence of an incomplete hyaline cartilage ring, in the form of a circle. Dense connective tissue fills the space between the extremities of each cartilage ring. Serotonin-immunoreactive cells frequently had an apical cytoplasmic process directed towards the lumen, and were therefore classified as open type. The α-actin immunohistochemistry revealed smooth muscle cells only in blood vessel walls, confirming the absence of a tracheal muscle.

Resumo Aspectos morfológicos das valvas atrioventriculares no avestruz (Struthio camelus).A anatomia do coração do avestruz tem sido relatada, mas são escassas as informações sobre as características histológicas das valvas atrioventriculares. Corações de avestruzes jovens foram fixados em formol a 10% por 24 h e dissecados para caracterização da anatomia macroscópica. Amostras das válvulas foram processadas e coradas com tricrômico de Mallory, tricrômico de Gomori e Picro-Sirius red, para posterior análise. A valva atrioventricular direita consiste em uma lâmina muscular com duas fixações. A válvula atrioventricular esquerda consiste em duas camadas de endocárdio com uma camada de tecido conjuntivo entre elas. A borda livre da válvula tricúspide sustenta um número variável de cordas tendíneas. Uma das cúspides se situa contra o septo, enquanto as outras duas cúspides na parede oposta. A valva aórtica, assim como a valva do tronco pulmonar, é formada por três valvulas. A valva atrioventricular direita apresentou-se apenas como uma lâmina muscular de miocárdio revestida por uma fina camada de tecido conjuntivo denso, com duas fixações. No tecido conjuntivo encontramos predominância de fibras colágenas do tipo I e, em menor quantidade, do tipo III, com uma presença discreta de fibras elásticas. Também foi comum a presença de fibras de Purkinje no subendocárdio valvular, sugerindo que elas participam diretamente na condução do estímulo nervoso para as fibras musculares no interior das válvulas. A valva atrioventricular esquerda consistiu em três válvulas, uma dorsal, uma esquerda e uma septal.Palavras-chave: Anatomia; Avestruz; Histologia; Valva atrioventricular. AbstractHeart anatomy in the ostrich has been reported, but there are few information on the histological features of the atrioventricular valves. Hearts of young ostriches were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for 24 h and dissected to characterize their macroscopic anatomy. Samples of valves were harvested and stained with Mallory's trichrome, Gomori's trichrome, and Picro-Sirius red, for later analysis. The right atrioventricular valve consists of a muscle flap with two fixations. The left atrioventricular valve consists of two layers of endocardium with a layer of connective tissue between them. The free border of the tricuspid valve supports a varying number of chordae tendineae. One of the cusps is attached to the septum, while the other two cusps are attached to the opposite wall. The aortic valve, as well as the pulmonary trunk valve, consists of three cusps. The right atrioventricular valve showed up only as a muscle flap of myocardium coated with a thin layer of dense connective tissue, with two fixations. In the connective tissue, we find a predominance of type I collagen fibers and a lesser amount of type III, with a small presence of elastic fibers. The presence of Purkinje fibers were also usual in the valvular subendocardium, suggesting that they directly participate in the transmission of nervous stimulation to the muscle fibers within the valves....