Os sistemas nervoso e endocrino estao integrados para controlar os eventos motores e secretores, ... more Os sistemas nervoso e endocrino estao integrados para controlar os eventos motores e secretores, envolvidos no processo de digestao e absorcao dos nutrientes no trato gastrointestinal (TGI). Nesta revisao, foi enfocado o sistema gastroenteropancreatico (GEP), como um sistema endocrino difuso, constituido por celulas endocrinas dispersas ao longo do epitelio de revestimento do trato gastrointestinal e no pâncreas. Sobre esse sistema foram abordados conceitos e formas de classifi cacao, distribuicao das celulas endocrinas ao longo do TGI, principais tipos de secrecao dessas celulas e sua acao sobre os eventos da digestao, alem de alguns processos regulatorios que controlam tal secrecao.
Reproduction, fertility, and development, Jan 12, 2018
The insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, including... more The insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, including Brazil, and has a reproductive biology that is affected by climate and food availability. To evaluate the reproductive capacity of this species, morphofunctional parameters of the testes were correlated with environmental variables and the body condition of individuals captured. After bats had been killed, their testes were removed, fixed in Karnovsky's fluid for 24h and embedded in resin for evaluation by light microscopy. The mean annual tubulosomatic index (0.58%) and the percentage of seminiferous tubules in the testes (88.96%) were the highest ever recorded for the Order Chiroptera. The percentage of Leydig cells and volume of the cytoplasm of Leydig cells were higher in the rainy than dry season (80.62±3.19% and 573.57±166.95μm, respectively; mean±s.d.). Conversely, the percentage of nuclei of the Leydig cells in the dry season (26.17±3.70%; mean±s.d.) and the total number of ...
A tightly regulated glucose homeostasis is essential for nectar-feeding bats, to manage and avoid... more A tightly regulated glucose homeostasis is essential for nectar-feeding bats, to manage and avoid hyperglycemia. The role of insulin and the contribution of glycogen reserves during rest periods and the extent of its involvement in blood glucose homeostasis during exercise have not been described yet and was the main objective of this study. Bats (Anoura caudifer) were assigned to the following groups: (1) Water and Resting (WR): received water (0.25 mL) and rested for zero, 45 or 90 min; (2) Glucose and Resting (GR): fed with a glucose solution (5.4 g/Kbw) and rested for 45 or 90 min; (3) Glucose and Exercise (GE): fed with a glucose solution (5.4 g/Kbw) and were induced to fly for a total of 45 or 90 min. Oxidative stress and metabolic markers were analyzed in all groups. We also describe morphometric and stereological parameters in pancreas from WR bats. Blood glucose concentrations were increased 45 min after glucose intake in resting bats compared to bats forced to fly and also...
The reptilian tongue has morphological and functional variations according to the feeding mechani... more The reptilian tongue has morphological and functional variations according to the feeding mechanisms and habitat of the species. This study aimed to understand the morphofunctional characteristics of the tongue of the lizard Salvator merianae , through anatomical, histological and scanning electron microscopy analyses. This experiment used five adult animals, which were collected in the municipality of Vicosa, Minas Gerais, from Brasil. The tongue of S. merianae was protractile and bifid, important to detect odors and locate prey, strongly muscular and with keratinized and pigmented stratified epithelium for protection. Mucous secretion was present as an important tool for lubrication and protection in view of the protrability of the tongue and the great presence of bacteria. Morphological specificities of the S. merianae tongue reflect its direct participation in feeding, with squamiform papillae for food apprehension. Taste buds were not found, which excludes the tongue participat...
Os lagartos Squamata Tropiduros torquatus e Salvator merianae sao onivoros com diferentes dietas ... more Os lagartos Squamata Tropiduros torquatus e Salvator merianae sao onivoros com diferentes dietas e estrategias forrageiras, ou que requerem respostas fisiologicas adequadas das celulas enteroendocrinas, uma vez que controlamos os eventos digestivos, a renovacao epitelial gastrointestinal, o metabolismo e a ingestao alimentar. Alem disso, pretendemos reduzir a distribuicao e frequencia de celulas endocrinas em nenhum ou nao tratamento digestivo de duas especies de lagartos. Cinco individuos de cada especie foram coletados, sacrificados e os orgaos digestivos removidos. Os cortes histologicos sao submersos utilizando as tecnicas de Grimelius para celulas argirofilicas e Masson-Fontana para celulas argentafin. Ambas as celulas endocrinas foram encontradas como um revestimento e um epitelio glandular, piramidal, oval, arredondado ou alongado. Celulas do forame argirofilico observadas em ambas as especies, predominantemente fora do estomago e esofago semicranial. Regiao pilorica de T. to...
A raiz do yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) em função da rica concentração de fruto-oligossacaríde... more A raiz do yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) em função da rica concentração de fruto-oligossacarídeos, é classificada como prebiótico e tornou-se promissora da obesidade pelo aumento da saciedade. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a inclusão de um produto à base de yacon (PBY) em ratas ovariectomizadas (OVX) no consumo alimentar, na modulação de medidas antropométricas e do imunomarcador da saciedade Glucagon Like Peptide-1(GLP-1) em ratas Wistar ovariectomizadas (OVX). Analisou-se o consumo alimentar pela pesagem diária de sobra de dieta, a porcentagem de gordura corporal foi determinada pelo índice de LEE e também foram avaliados o peso, o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e circunferência abdominal. Fragmentos do ceco foram utilizados para imunomarcação de GLP-1, de ratas OVX, após serem alimentadas por 24 semanas com dieta padrão adicionadas ou não de 6 % de FOS/inulina/PBY. Observou-se diminuição da circunferência abdominal (p=0,2173) em 3,5 %, também houve decréscimo de IMC (p=0,...
Bats have adapted to many different feeding habits, which are known to induce morphophysiological... more Bats have adapted to many different feeding habits, which are known to induce morphophysiological adaptations in several tissues, especially those particularly involved with absorption, metabolism and excretion. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) has a very unique diet (blood), which, among other challenges, seems to pose a risk to their kidneys, due to the increased nitrogen excretion imposed by their remarkably high protein meal. Fruit-eating bats (Artibeus lituratus) consume a high carbohydrate diet and may be taken as a suitable species for this dietary comparative study. Here we aimed at investigating the renal morphology and stereology, kidneys antioxidant capacity, and plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentrations in adult fruit-eating and vampire bats. Sixteen animals were captured and used in this study, being 8 adult males from each species. Our results showed higher morphological standards of glomerular area, volumetric density of glomeruli, and renal somatic i...
No presente trabalho foram analisadas diferencas histologicas entre o duodeno, jejuno e ileo em r... more No presente trabalho foram analisadas diferencas histologicas entre o duodeno, jejuno e ileo em relacao as camadas mucosa, submucosa e muscular de gambas da especie Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826. Verificou-se tambem a existencia de possivel relacao entre a morfologia da parede intestinal e o numero de celulas endocrinas. Foram capturados dez especimes de gambas da especie D. auritaacima de 800g. As tecnicas de coloracao utilizadas visaram a identificacao das celulas argirofilas (Grimelius), argentafins (Masson Fontana modificada), imunorreativas a insulina (imunoperoxidase direta) e das camadas da parede intestinal (HE). Entre as regioes inicial, media e final de cada segmento, a morfometria das camadas foi similar (P>0,05). As diferencas nos numeros de celulas enteroendocrinas nao foram acompanhadas de alteracoes nas espessuras das camadas mucosa, submucosa e muscular do intestino delgado de D. aurita (P>0,05), embora fisiologicamente, os resultados aqui encontra...
Morphofunctional characteristics of the large intestine are rarely explored to understand the phy... more Morphofunctional characteristics of the large intestine are rarely explored to understand the physiology, behavior and ecology of neotropical primates. In this study, we analyzed the histometric parameters of the large intestine of hybrid marmosets (Callithrix sp.) captured in forest fragments of Viçosa-Brazil, under seasonal interference. These animals were predominantly insectivorous in the rainy season and gummivores in the dry season. Large intestine fragments were collected and processed according to histological methods and stained with toluidine blue for general analysis, periodic acid of Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue (AB) for goblet cells, Grimelius and Masson Fontana for argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells. Several histometric parameters were more expressive in the large intestine of the rainy season marmosets: greater thickness of the parietal layers, greater number of argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells, and AB-positive goblet cells, characteristics favor secretomotor functions and reduce the passage time of the fecal bolus, which is consistent with an insectivorous diet. In contrast, parameters such as crypt width, height of the absorptive cells and striated border, and the number of PAS-positive cells were more expressive in the dry season marmosets, reflecting the need for longer passage time for digestion and absorption of food items from tree gum, which are more complex and demand the action of microorganisms present in the large intestine, as well as greater protection against the abrasive action of dietary fibers and against microorganisms. Thus, it can be said that the marmoset's large intestine has morphological adaptations to maximize energy intake from the diet, which alternates under the influence of seasonality.
Os mirídeos têm papel importante sobre a economia brasileira devido à sua influência sobre divers... more Os mirídeos têm papel importante sobre a economia brasileira devido à sua influência sobre diversas culturas agrícolas. Devido a isso, este artigo foi desenvolvido visando apresentar as espécies de Miridae que possuem associações ou potenciais associações com plantas no Brasil. Para isso, foram realizadas consultas de artigos, livros e coleções de museus. Ao todo, foram encontradas 168 espécies de mirídeos associadas a plantas; estes dados foram manipulados para a elaboração de gráficos representando as interações entre as espécies de percevejos e as plantas hospedeiras no Brasil.
In view of the great diversity of dietary habits among bats, and the need for morphological adapt... more In view of the great diversity of dietary habits among bats, and the need for morphological adaptations in their digestive system, this study characterized and compared the morphology of the small (SI) and large intestines (LI) of the bats Artibeus planirostris (Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae) and Diphylla ecaudata (Phyllostomidae: Desmodontinae), and interpret their morphologies in the context of dietary differences. We hypothesized that diet could influence the morphological characteristics in these two species by means of a more complex intestinal morphology in A. planirostris than in D. ecaudata. The intestines were histologically processed, stained, and analyzed. Despite body mass differences, total intestinal length were almost two folds higher in A. planirostris than in D. ecaudata, and the intestinal coefficient, which quantifies the investment in intestines in relation to the body mass, wasn't statistically different. Macroscopically, no distinction was observed between the SI and LI, and few differences allowed to distinguish histologically the regions of the SI in both species. We found a typical organization of Peyer's patches only in D. ecaudata. Enteroendocrine cells were more frequently observed at caudal parts of the small intestine in both species. In A. planirostris, the SI diameter, the thickness of its wall, and the thickness and percentage occupied by the mucosal layer, as well as the wall thickness of its LI, were greater than those in D. ecaudata. Circular folds were observed only in the LI of A. planirostris. We speculate that these differences represent strategies to increase the contact surface available to optimize nutrient uptake in A. planirostris; while the hematophagous feeding habit of D. ecaudata, predominantly proteinaceous and semifluid, has a gut wall characterized with less morphological complexity and specializations; which confirms our hypothesis. Based on the similarities and differences founded, it can be concluded for both species that the reduction in the anatomical structures, associated with the microscopic findings, allows to optimize the absorption of nutrients and water in these bats when compared to other mammals; a similar pattern to that found in other chiropterans.
The ingestion of considerable amounts of water or food contaminated with nickel can be very toxic... more The ingestion of considerable amounts of water or food contaminated with nickel can be very toxic. The present work was conducted aiming to evaluate the effects of nickel exposures on ascending colon of adult Wistar male rats at hystometric level. We used 12 animals that were divided in a control (ingested uncontaminated water) and a nickel-contaminated (i.e., 25 mg de nickel/L of water) groups. Nickel chloride was offered in declorinated water and the experiment had a 56 days exposure period. A portion of the ascending colon was removed of the animals and subjected to hystological labelling processes using blue toluidin (for general hystometric description), Alcian Blue (AB, for acid mucins) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) technique (for neutral mucins). The potential differences between groups were desgined by applying the Whitney test and t test (p < 0.05). The crypts were smaller for the nickel-contaminated group, even though these organism exhibited broader and higher crypts....
Due to the ecological importance and given the scarcity of studies on the digestive morphology of... more Due to the ecological importance and given the scarcity of studies on the digestive morphology of primates, anatomical aspects of the body and digestive tract, as well as food content were analysed for marmosets Callithrix sp. (hybrids of exotic species) captured in forest fragments in Minas Gerais ‐ Brazil, during the dry and rainy seasons, considering that seasonal variations affect the availability of food and quality of diet. Data such as body weight and length, and thoracic and abdominal perimeters were analysed, and no significant difference was found between dry and rainy seasons. In relation to the digestive tract, length, weight and diameter of the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine were measured, in addition to the isolated caecum. There was a significant difference in the diameter of the ascending colon, which was larger in the animals in the dry season than in the rainy season. The difference found may be related to diet, and through analysis of the gastric and caecal contents, it was observed that gum was the main food item for the dry season marmosets, while in the rainy season the animals consumed mainly arthropods. Thus, the characteristic observed in the digestive tract of dry season marmosets is a reflection of an adaptive response to gum intake, since this food item is of low digestibility, necessitating that the food content be retained for a long time in this segment of the large intestine, helping the process of microbial fermentation and better energy utilization for these animals.
A complex network of nerve fibers of the enteric nervous system and enteroendocrine cells is know... more A complex network of nerve fibers of the enteric nervous system and enteroendocrine cells is known to regulate the gastrointestinal tract. The distribution and frequency of the argyrophil, argentaffin and serotonin immunoreactive endocrine cells and of the submucosal and myenteric nervous ganglia were studied in the small intestine of the capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, aiming to verify the existence of possible numerical correlations between endocrine cells and nervous ganglia. Fragments of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of adult animals were collected and processed according to routine histological techniques. To study the nervous ganglia, hematoxylin and eosin staining was used, while specific staining techniques were used to study the argyrophil, argentaffin and serotonin immunoreactive endocrine cells: Grimelius, modified Masson-Fontana and peroxidase anti-peroxidase, respectively. Endocrine cells were more abundant in the area of the crypts and, in relation to their morph...
Os sistemas nervoso e endocrino estao integrados para controlar os eventos motores e secretores, ... more Os sistemas nervoso e endocrino estao integrados para controlar os eventos motores e secretores, envolvidos no processo de digestao e absorcao dos nutrientes no trato gastrointestinal (TGI). Nesta revisao, foi enfocado o sistema gastroenteropancreatico (GEP), como um sistema endocrino difuso, constituido por celulas endocrinas dispersas ao longo do epitelio de revestimento do trato gastrointestinal e no pâncreas. Sobre esse sistema foram abordados conceitos e formas de classifi cacao, distribuicao das celulas endocrinas ao longo do TGI, principais tipos de secrecao dessas celulas e sua acao sobre os eventos da digestao, alem de alguns processos regulatorios que controlam tal secrecao.
Reproduction, fertility, and development, Jan 12, 2018
The insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, including... more The insectivorous bat Myotis nigricans is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, including Brazil, and has a reproductive biology that is affected by climate and food availability. To evaluate the reproductive capacity of this species, morphofunctional parameters of the testes were correlated with environmental variables and the body condition of individuals captured. After bats had been killed, their testes were removed, fixed in Karnovsky's fluid for 24h and embedded in resin for evaluation by light microscopy. The mean annual tubulosomatic index (0.58%) and the percentage of seminiferous tubules in the testes (88.96%) were the highest ever recorded for the Order Chiroptera. The percentage of Leydig cells and volume of the cytoplasm of Leydig cells were higher in the rainy than dry season (80.62±3.19% and 573.57±166.95μm, respectively; mean±s.d.). Conversely, the percentage of nuclei of the Leydig cells in the dry season (26.17±3.70%; mean±s.d.) and the total number of ...
A tightly regulated glucose homeostasis is essential for nectar-feeding bats, to manage and avoid... more A tightly regulated glucose homeostasis is essential for nectar-feeding bats, to manage and avoid hyperglycemia. The role of insulin and the contribution of glycogen reserves during rest periods and the extent of its involvement in blood glucose homeostasis during exercise have not been described yet and was the main objective of this study. Bats (Anoura caudifer) were assigned to the following groups: (1) Water and Resting (WR): received water (0.25 mL) and rested for zero, 45 or 90 min; (2) Glucose and Resting (GR): fed with a glucose solution (5.4 g/Kbw) and rested for 45 or 90 min; (3) Glucose and Exercise (GE): fed with a glucose solution (5.4 g/Kbw) and were induced to fly for a total of 45 or 90 min. Oxidative stress and metabolic markers were analyzed in all groups. We also describe morphometric and stereological parameters in pancreas from WR bats. Blood glucose concentrations were increased 45 min after glucose intake in resting bats compared to bats forced to fly and also...
The reptilian tongue has morphological and functional variations according to the feeding mechani... more The reptilian tongue has morphological and functional variations according to the feeding mechanisms and habitat of the species. This study aimed to understand the morphofunctional characteristics of the tongue of the lizard Salvator merianae , through anatomical, histological and scanning electron microscopy analyses. This experiment used five adult animals, which were collected in the municipality of Vicosa, Minas Gerais, from Brasil. The tongue of S. merianae was protractile and bifid, important to detect odors and locate prey, strongly muscular and with keratinized and pigmented stratified epithelium for protection. Mucous secretion was present as an important tool for lubrication and protection in view of the protrability of the tongue and the great presence of bacteria. Morphological specificities of the S. merianae tongue reflect its direct participation in feeding, with squamiform papillae for food apprehension. Taste buds were not found, which excludes the tongue participat...
Os lagartos Squamata Tropiduros torquatus e Salvator merianae sao onivoros com diferentes dietas ... more Os lagartos Squamata Tropiduros torquatus e Salvator merianae sao onivoros com diferentes dietas e estrategias forrageiras, ou que requerem respostas fisiologicas adequadas das celulas enteroendocrinas, uma vez que controlamos os eventos digestivos, a renovacao epitelial gastrointestinal, o metabolismo e a ingestao alimentar. Alem disso, pretendemos reduzir a distribuicao e frequencia de celulas endocrinas em nenhum ou nao tratamento digestivo de duas especies de lagartos. Cinco individuos de cada especie foram coletados, sacrificados e os orgaos digestivos removidos. Os cortes histologicos sao submersos utilizando as tecnicas de Grimelius para celulas argirofilicas e Masson-Fontana para celulas argentafin. Ambas as celulas endocrinas foram encontradas como um revestimento e um epitelio glandular, piramidal, oval, arredondado ou alongado. Celulas do forame argirofilico observadas em ambas as especies, predominantemente fora do estomago e esofago semicranial. Regiao pilorica de T. to...
A raiz do yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) em função da rica concentração de fruto-oligossacaríde... more A raiz do yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) em função da rica concentração de fruto-oligossacarídeos, é classificada como prebiótico e tornou-se promissora da obesidade pelo aumento da saciedade. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a inclusão de um produto à base de yacon (PBY) em ratas ovariectomizadas (OVX) no consumo alimentar, na modulação de medidas antropométricas e do imunomarcador da saciedade Glucagon Like Peptide-1(GLP-1) em ratas Wistar ovariectomizadas (OVX). Analisou-se o consumo alimentar pela pesagem diária de sobra de dieta, a porcentagem de gordura corporal foi determinada pelo índice de LEE e também foram avaliados o peso, o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e circunferência abdominal. Fragmentos do ceco foram utilizados para imunomarcação de GLP-1, de ratas OVX, após serem alimentadas por 24 semanas com dieta padrão adicionadas ou não de 6 % de FOS/inulina/PBY. Observou-se diminuição da circunferência abdominal (p=0,2173) em 3,5 %, também houve decréscimo de IMC (p=0,...
Bats have adapted to many different feeding habits, which are known to induce morphophysiological... more Bats have adapted to many different feeding habits, which are known to induce morphophysiological adaptations in several tissues, especially those particularly involved with absorption, metabolism and excretion. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) has a very unique diet (blood), which, among other challenges, seems to pose a risk to their kidneys, due to the increased nitrogen excretion imposed by their remarkably high protein meal. Fruit-eating bats (Artibeus lituratus) consume a high carbohydrate diet and may be taken as a suitable species for this dietary comparative study. Here we aimed at investigating the renal morphology and stereology, kidneys antioxidant capacity, and plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentrations in adult fruit-eating and vampire bats. Sixteen animals were captured and used in this study, being 8 adult males from each species. Our results showed higher morphological standards of glomerular area, volumetric density of glomeruli, and renal somatic i...
No presente trabalho foram analisadas diferencas histologicas entre o duodeno, jejuno e ileo em r... more No presente trabalho foram analisadas diferencas histologicas entre o duodeno, jejuno e ileo em relacao as camadas mucosa, submucosa e muscular de gambas da especie Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826. Verificou-se tambem a existencia de possivel relacao entre a morfologia da parede intestinal e o numero de celulas endocrinas. Foram capturados dez especimes de gambas da especie D. auritaacima de 800g. As tecnicas de coloracao utilizadas visaram a identificacao das celulas argirofilas (Grimelius), argentafins (Masson Fontana modificada), imunorreativas a insulina (imunoperoxidase direta) e das camadas da parede intestinal (HE). Entre as regioes inicial, media e final de cada segmento, a morfometria das camadas foi similar (P>0,05). As diferencas nos numeros de celulas enteroendocrinas nao foram acompanhadas de alteracoes nas espessuras das camadas mucosa, submucosa e muscular do intestino delgado de D. aurita (P>0,05), embora fisiologicamente, os resultados aqui encontra...
Morphofunctional characteristics of the large intestine are rarely explored to understand the phy... more Morphofunctional characteristics of the large intestine are rarely explored to understand the physiology, behavior and ecology of neotropical primates. In this study, we analyzed the histometric parameters of the large intestine of hybrid marmosets (Callithrix sp.) captured in forest fragments of Viçosa-Brazil, under seasonal interference. These animals were predominantly insectivorous in the rainy season and gummivores in the dry season. Large intestine fragments were collected and processed according to histological methods and stained with toluidine blue for general analysis, periodic acid of Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue (AB) for goblet cells, Grimelius and Masson Fontana for argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells. Several histometric parameters were more expressive in the large intestine of the rainy season marmosets: greater thickness of the parietal layers, greater number of argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells, and AB-positive goblet cells, characteristics favor secretomotor functions and reduce the passage time of the fecal bolus, which is consistent with an insectivorous diet. In contrast, parameters such as crypt width, height of the absorptive cells and striated border, and the number of PAS-positive cells were more expressive in the dry season marmosets, reflecting the need for longer passage time for digestion and absorption of food items from tree gum, which are more complex and demand the action of microorganisms present in the large intestine, as well as greater protection against the abrasive action of dietary fibers and against microorganisms. Thus, it can be said that the marmoset's large intestine has morphological adaptations to maximize energy intake from the diet, which alternates under the influence of seasonality.
Os mirídeos têm papel importante sobre a economia brasileira devido à sua influência sobre divers... more Os mirídeos têm papel importante sobre a economia brasileira devido à sua influência sobre diversas culturas agrícolas. Devido a isso, este artigo foi desenvolvido visando apresentar as espécies de Miridae que possuem associações ou potenciais associações com plantas no Brasil. Para isso, foram realizadas consultas de artigos, livros e coleções de museus. Ao todo, foram encontradas 168 espécies de mirídeos associadas a plantas; estes dados foram manipulados para a elaboração de gráficos representando as interações entre as espécies de percevejos e as plantas hospedeiras no Brasil.
In view of the great diversity of dietary habits among bats, and the need for morphological adapt... more In view of the great diversity of dietary habits among bats, and the need for morphological adaptations in their digestive system, this study characterized and compared the morphology of the small (SI) and large intestines (LI) of the bats Artibeus planirostris (Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae) and Diphylla ecaudata (Phyllostomidae: Desmodontinae), and interpret their morphologies in the context of dietary differences. We hypothesized that diet could influence the morphological characteristics in these two species by means of a more complex intestinal morphology in A. planirostris than in D. ecaudata. The intestines were histologically processed, stained, and analyzed. Despite body mass differences, total intestinal length were almost two folds higher in A. planirostris than in D. ecaudata, and the intestinal coefficient, which quantifies the investment in intestines in relation to the body mass, wasn't statistically different. Macroscopically, no distinction was observed between the SI and LI, and few differences allowed to distinguish histologically the regions of the SI in both species. We found a typical organization of Peyer's patches only in D. ecaudata. Enteroendocrine cells were more frequently observed at caudal parts of the small intestine in both species. In A. planirostris, the SI diameter, the thickness of its wall, and the thickness and percentage occupied by the mucosal layer, as well as the wall thickness of its LI, were greater than those in D. ecaudata. Circular folds were observed only in the LI of A. planirostris. We speculate that these differences represent strategies to increase the contact surface available to optimize nutrient uptake in A. planirostris; while the hematophagous feeding habit of D. ecaudata, predominantly proteinaceous and semifluid, has a gut wall characterized with less morphological complexity and specializations; which confirms our hypothesis. Based on the similarities and differences founded, it can be concluded for both species that the reduction in the anatomical structures, associated with the microscopic findings, allows to optimize the absorption of nutrients and water in these bats when compared to other mammals; a similar pattern to that found in other chiropterans.
The ingestion of considerable amounts of water or food contaminated with nickel can be very toxic... more The ingestion of considerable amounts of water or food contaminated with nickel can be very toxic. The present work was conducted aiming to evaluate the effects of nickel exposures on ascending colon of adult Wistar male rats at hystometric level. We used 12 animals that were divided in a control (ingested uncontaminated water) and a nickel-contaminated (i.e., 25 mg de nickel/L of water) groups. Nickel chloride was offered in declorinated water and the experiment had a 56 days exposure period. A portion of the ascending colon was removed of the animals and subjected to hystological labelling processes using blue toluidin (for general hystometric description), Alcian Blue (AB, for acid mucins) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) technique (for neutral mucins). The potential differences between groups were desgined by applying the Whitney test and t test (p < 0.05). The crypts were smaller for the nickel-contaminated group, even though these organism exhibited broader and higher crypts....
Due to the ecological importance and given the scarcity of studies on the digestive morphology of... more Due to the ecological importance and given the scarcity of studies on the digestive morphology of primates, anatomical aspects of the body and digestive tract, as well as food content were analysed for marmosets Callithrix sp. (hybrids of exotic species) captured in forest fragments in Minas Gerais ‐ Brazil, during the dry and rainy seasons, considering that seasonal variations affect the availability of food and quality of diet. Data such as body weight and length, and thoracic and abdominal perimeters were analysed, and no significant difference was found between dry and rainy seasons. In relation to the digestive tract, length, weight and diameter of the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine were measured, in addition to the isolated caecum. There was a significant difference in the diameter of the ascending colon, which was larger in the animals in the dry season than in the rainy season. The difference found may be related to diet, and through analysis of the gastric and caecal contents, it was observed that gum was the main food item for the dry season marmosets, while in the rainy season the animals consumed mainly arthropods. Thus, the characteristic observed in the digestive tract of dry season marmosets is a reflection of an adaptive response to gum intake, since this food item is of low digestibility, necessitating that the food content be retained for a long time in this segment of the large intestine, helping the process of microbial fermentation and better energy utilization for these animals.
A complex network of nerve fibers of the enteric nervous system and enteroendocrine cells is know... more A complex network of nerve fibers of the enteric nervous system and enteroendocrine cells is known to regulate the gastrointestinal tract. The distribution and frequency of the argyrophil, argentaffin and serotonin immunoreactive endocrine cells and of the submucosal and myenteric nervous ganglia were studied in the small intestine of the capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, aiming to verify the existence of possible numerical correlations between endocrine cells and nervous ganglia. Fragments of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of adult animals were collected and processed according to routine histological techniques. To study the nervous ganglia, hematoxylin and eosin staining was used, while specific staining techniques were used to study the argyrophil, argentaffin and serotonin immunoreactive endocrine cells: Grimelius, modified Masson-Fontana and peroxidase anti-peroxidase, respectively. Endocrine cells were more abundant in the area of the crypts and, in relation to their morph...
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