Morphometric characterization of sexual differences in the rat sublingual gland

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The presence of morphological differences in the sublingual gland of male and female adult rats was determined by morphometry. Absolute and relative glandular mass was 21% lower and 31% higher, respectively, in females than in males. The fractions of glandular volume occupied by the mixed acini, intercalated ducts and striated ducts did not differ significantly between genders; however, their absolute volume was respectively 29, 42 and 58% higher in males. Despite the differences in the volume of these morphological compartments, the number of cells did not differ significantly between genders, except for the excretory duct compartment, for which a larger number was observed in males. With respect to cell volume, 13, 33 and 47% higher volumes were observed in males for mucous acinar cells and striated and excretory duct cells, respectively, while a 38% higher volume of serous demilune cells was observed for females. The surface-to-volume ratio of acini and striated ducts was respectively 16 and 35% higher in females. Based on these results, we conclude that the sublingual gland of female rats possesses smaller acini, and shorter ducts whose caliber is narrower, smaller mucous acinar and larger serous cells than the ones found in the male gland, indicating the presence of sexual dimorphism as well as suggesting sexual differences in the quality of the secreted product. DESCRIPTORS: Sublingual gland; Rats; Sex characteristics. RESUMO:A ocorrência de diferenças morfológicas entre sexos na glândula sublingual de ratos adultos foi verificada pela morfometria. As massas glandular absoluta e relativa das fêmeas foi, respectivamente, 21% menor e 31% maior que as dos machos. As frações de volume glandular ocupadas pelos ácinos mistos, ductos intercalares e ductos estriados não mostraram diferenças significantes entre sexos, no entanto, os seus volumes absolutos foram, respectivamente, 29%, 42% e 58% maiores nos machos. Apesar dessas diferenças nos volumes compartimentais, os seus conteúdos em número de células não apresentaram diferenças significantes entre sexos, exceto o compartimento dos ductos excretores, que mostrou maior número nos machos. Quanto ao volume celular, as células acinosas mucosas, as dos ductos estriados e as dos ductos excretores mostraram volumes, respectivamente, 13%, 33% e 47% maiores nos machos, e o das células das semiluas serosas foi 38% maior nas fêmeas. A relação superfície-volume dos ácinos e dos ductos estriados foi, respectivamente, 16% e 35% maior nas fêmeas. Baseados nos resultados obtidos, concluímos que as glândulas sublinguais das fêmeas exibem ácinos menores e ductos mais curtos e menos calibrosos e células acinosas mucosas menores e serosas maiores do que nos machos, indicando a ocorrência de dimorfismo sexual, e sugerindo que possa haver também diferenças na qualidade do produto secretado. DESCRITORES: Glândula sublingual; Ratos; Características sexuais. HistologyLima MC, Sottovia-Filho D, Cestari TM, Taga R. Morphometric characterization of sexual differences in the rat su...

Influence of hypo-osmolality and induced seizures on blood brain barrier permeability and brain concentrations of trace elements in rats

“…Steps were completed according to Drury and Wallington examination (21). Morphometric Procedure for estimation of number of cells in the hilar region of dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was performed (22).…”