The morphology of the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), which plays an important function in marking area and territory and in the reproductive behaviour of the animal, was examined using immunohistochemistry, lectin histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy. The gland was composed of sebaceous and apocrine glandular material. Sebaceous glands occupied a greater area of the total gland and consisted of many large lobules with polyhedral cells having a pale cytoplasm. The sebaceous gland, being holocrine, possessed no special secretory ducts. The apocrine gland was lined by cuboid cells and the secretory products were often seen in the apical portions of the cells. Myoepithelial cells contained actin filaments lining the basal membranes of the apocrine gland and were surrounded by nerve fibres which immunostained with protein gene product 9.5. The secretion of the gland appears to be a mixture of larger amounts of lipid material from sebaceous glands, and glycoconjugates secreted by both sebaceous and apocrine glands. Lectin histochemistry detected these as galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose and D-glucose. The male gland was larger in size and contained more N-acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine in its secretion than the gland of the female. This implied the presence of sexual differences in secretions in the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer.

Skin becomes the largest organ in the body and protects its own inner layer. The structure and chemical composition of the skin contribute to skin condition and affect the habitat of certain bacteria. The Sunda Porcupine is one of endemic animals of Indonesia which possesses quill as the main derivate of its skin and as a defence tool against predators. The present study used nine adults (five females and four males) of Sunda Porcupine and aimed to observe the correlation of skin structure with bacterial population at the surface level. The skin was wavy due to the protrusion of quill follicle orifices on the skin surface and formed clusters. The skin of Sunda Porcupine was also wrinkled and had a lot of flakiness. Histologically, the skin was composed of epidermis, dermis, hypodermis and subcutaneous muscle. The quill follicles and their properties were the dominant structure component of the skin. No sweat gland was observed in the skin of the Sunda Porcupine, and sebaceous gland was found only around quill and hair follicles. The bacterias identified in the skin were Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Micrococcus sp. and Salmonella sp. When compared, the bacterial population was higher in the lumbosacral region than in the thoracodorsal region, but the difference was not significant. The density of quill clusters was negatively correlated to the bacterial population. It was suggested the structure of the skin has contribution to bacterial population in dorsal trunk of the Sunda Porcupine.

This study was conducted to investigate the histological characteristic, type, and distribution of connective tissue in Sunda porcupine skin. The investigation was carried out in three adult of sunda porcupines at microscopic level using hematoxylin eosin, Masson thrichrome, Verhoeffs van Gieson, alcian blue pH 2.5 and periodic acid Schiff staining methods. Skin consists of epidermis, dermis hypodermis, and subcutaneous muscle. Quill follicles were the main and dominant structure as well as the specific characteristic on Sunda porcupine skin. The connective tissue was distributed well in basal membrane, dermis, quill follicle, and hypodermis with various intensity and density. The collagen was the main fiber found in the skin while the elastin fiber was not observed. The acid carbohydrate was found distributed well in the skin while the neutral carbohydrate was not detected in this study. In addition the fibers of connective tissue associated with the adipose tissue which found plentifully in quill follicles and hypodermis. The present results showed that the wide distribution of connective tissue might have an important role on the wound healing physiology of Sunda porcupine skin.

Abstract. Prawira AY, Novelina S, Farida WR, Darusman HS, Agungpriyono S. 2019. Lectin histochemical study of the quill sebaceous gland in the dorsal skin of the Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica). Biodiversitas 20: 2677-2684. In the Sunda Porcupine skin, the sebaceous glands of the quill follicles are multi-lobed alveolar and better developed than those of hair follicles. Using lectin histochemistry, we have studied the distribution of sugar-binding in the sebaceous glands of quills in comparison with those of hairs in six adult Sunda Porcupines. The skin samples from the thoracodorsal and lumbosacral regions were collected by biopsy procedure and processed for histology, histochemistry, and lectin histochemistry. The results showed that the lectin binding patterns are similar in secretory acinar parts of both types of sebaceous glands. The acini and excretory duct contained neutral carbohydrate and sugar residues. The acini also contained alpha D-mannose sugar residue, while the non-secretory excretory duct and debris in the lumen contained alpha-D-mannose, alpha-L-fucose, and α>β-N-acetylgalactosamine, and complex type N-glycan (oligosaccharide) sugar residues, as well. The present findings allowed us to suggest, that in Sunda Porcupine functions of the sebaceous glands of quills are more complex and active compared to those of the hairs.

Wound healing in the Sunda porcupine is believed to occur quickly, although the wound is large and severe. Wound enclosure involves many processes to restore the lost or damaged skin structure where conjugated polysaccharide-protein and collagen, as the main components deposited in wound tissue to restore it. The aim of this study was to evaluate alteration of polysaccharide contents and collagen in untreated full-thickness wound healing in the thoracodorsal and lumbosacral regions in the Sunda porcupines. Histological analysis was performed by periodic acid Schiff, alcian blue pH 2.5, picrosirius red staining method and Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope (LV-SEM) imaging to obtain the fundamental data of healing process. Wound healing began with re-epithelization followed by progressive wound contraction with 4 overlapping stages in about 30-50 days until the wound closed (21-30 days in thoracodorsal and 30-50 days in lumbosacral). Neutral polysaccharide was more widely distributed compared to the acid polysaccharide in almost all stages of wound healing. The ratio of collagen I to III appeared to be higher in the thoracodorsal region than the lumbosacral region during healing process. LV-SEM imaging showed changes in connective tissue structure in the wound border and granulation tissue which appeared abundant and mixed of thin and thick fiber. In conclusion, cutaneous full thickness wound healing in the Sunda porcupine occurred faster in the thoracodorsal region, which might be correlated to the role of neutral polysaccharide and a high ratio of collagen I to III.

Pangolin is an animal that has special attention by CITES since 1985. This is due to increase of market demand, especially from China. It causes the illegal hunting is increasing, so that alleged wild population decreases dramatically. Overcoming of decreasing of the pangolin populations in the wild, could be anticipated by captive breeding. The information about the status of the reproductive biology of wild animals is very important for implementation of ex situ conservation activities. One of the aspects of the reproductive biology of wild animals is knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs both males and females.Nowdays, data on morphological characteristics of male reproductive organs of pangolin (M. javanica) still limited. The data obtained of this study is new information in reproductive biology, especially on the morphological characteristics of the male reproductive organs of pangolin (M. javanica). In addition, the information can be the data base that is important in the effort to support ex situ conservation.

ABSTRAKOrgan reproduksi trenggiling merupakan hal yang penting dalam menunjang upaya konservasi, karena trenggiling termasuk dalam kategori endangered species oleh IUCN dan dilindungi pemerintah berdasarkan UU No. 5/1990 serta PP No. 7/1999, meskipun menurut CITES termasuk appendix II. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari makroanatomi organ reproduksi jantan trenggiling (M. javanica). Organ reproduksi jantan dari lima ekor trenggiling digunakan pada penelitian ini. Pengamatan dilakukan terhadap posisi in situ, morfologi dan morfometri, yang meliputi pengukuran panjang, lebar atau diameter, tebal, dan dari masing-masing bagian organ reproduksi jantan trenggiling dengan menggunakan kaliper dalam satuan cm, serta bobot dalam satuan gr. Analisis dilakukan secara deskriptif. Hasil pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa trenggiling memiliki sepasang organ reproduksi yang terdiri atas testes, epididymis dan ductus deferens yang selanjutnya bermuara ke urethra.Testes terletak di subcutanea daerah inguinales, serta tidak terbungkus oleh scrotum. Testis dexter dan sinister memiliki bentuk dan ukuran yang relatif sama. Ukuran rata-rata testis adalah panjang 3,78 ± 0,12 cm, lebar 1,24 ± 0,02 cm, tebal 0,90 ± 0,03 cm, dan bobot 5,64 ± 0,04 g. Epididymis membentuk caput, corpus dan cauda dengan panjang rata-rata 4,78 ± 0,02 cm, sedangkan panjang rata-rata ductus deferens adalah 8,98 ± 0,31 cm. Penis berukuran kecil dan pendek, bertipe muscolocavernosus dengan rata-rata panjang dan diameter adalah 5,39 ± 1,63 cm, dan 0,64 ± 0,03 cm. Ditemukannya testes ascrotalis di subcutanea daerah inguinales merupakan hasil yang menarik dari penelitian ini yang diduga terkait dengan perilaku trenggiling menggulung tubuh.Kata kunci: trenggiling (M. javanica), organ reproduksi jantan, testes ascrotalis ABSTRACTReproductive organs are important for the conservation program of endangered species such as pangolin. Javan pangolin listed as endangered species in the IUCN red list and protected by Indonesian government based on UU No. 5/1990 and PP No. 7/1999. However CITES listed in appendix II. The study aims to reveal the macroanatomy of the male reproductive organs of javan pangolin (M. javanica). Male reproductive organs of five pangolins were used in this study. In situ and morphometric observations of the pangolin's male reproductive organs were done including measurements of length, width or diameter, thickness by using a caliper in units of cm and it weight in gr. The analysis was performed descriptively. The results showed that the pangolin has a pair of reproductive organ that consist of testes, epididymis and deferens ducts which then empties into the urethra. Testes are located subcutaneusly in the inguinal area and scrotum is absent. Pair of testes are almost similar in shape and size. The average size of the testes are 3.78 ± 0.12 cm in length, 1.24 ± 0.02 cm in width, 0.90 ± 0.03 cm in thickness, and 5.64 ± 0.04 g in weight. The epididymis has average length of 4.78 ± 0.02 cm with distinguishable of caput, corpus and cauda epididymis. T...

Aktivitas terbang pada kelelawar membutuhkan energi paling banyak dibandingkan dengan aktivitas lokomosi lainnya. Morfofisiologi dan profil biokimia darah diduga memiliki peranan penting terhadap kemampuan terbang hewan tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui karakteristik morfofisiologi eritrosit dan profil biokimia darah P. vampyrus. Penelitian ini menggunakan 15 ekor kelelawar dewasa dengan bobot badan antara 669,7 g sampai 1211,5 g (x̄ = 957,51 ± 177,52 g). Sampel darah diambil secara langsung melalui ventrikel kiri jantung. Pengamatan dan pengukuran terhadap preparat ulas darah menunjukkan bahwa morfologi eritrosit P. vampyrus mirip dengan mamalia secara umum dan mempunyai diameter rata-rata 7,15 ± 0,45 µm. Koefisien variasi ukuran eritrosit (RDWc) hewan ini sebesar 18,11 ± 1,16%.  Pemeriksaan hematologi yang dilakukan menggunakan automated counter menunjukkan bahwa total eritrosit (8,89 ± 1,36 106/µl),  konsentrasi hemoglobin (14,33 ± 2,38 g/dl), dan nilai hematokrit (42,13 ± 6,49%) P. vampyrus relatif lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan mamalia pada umumnya. Neutrofil dan limfosit merupakan komponen yang mendominasi jumlah leukosit. Adapun persentase jumlah neutrofil lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan jumlah limfosit. Penelitian ini memberikan informasi dasar yang dapat mendukung penelitian terkait dengan kemampuan terbang dari P. vampyrus.