Biomedical subjects

A T Varute

Publications and source records attributed to A T Varute.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1977

Histochemical studies on the mucins of the vertebrate tongues. XI. Histochemical analysis of mucosubstances in the lingual glands and taste buds of some birds.

The tongues of six birds were investigated histochemically to determine the distribution and nature of mucosubstances in the lingual glands and taste buds. The anterior lingual glands in sparrow, kingfisher, parrot and pigeon hawk contained only one type of cells (seromucous) elaborating a mixture of neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and sulfomucins. The anterior lingual glands in fowl and owl contained three distinct types of cells elaborating separately neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and sulfomucins. The posterior lingual glands in most of the birds investigated except fowl contained only seromucous cells identical to the cells in the anterior lingual glands, while in fowl two distinct cell types were identified: one elaborating sulfomucins and the other sialomucins. Taste buds were found to be restricted in the glandular areas of the tongue in all the birds and always in close association with the gland ducts. Special adenomere cavities were seen only in the tongue of sparrow.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Histochemical studies on the mucins of the vertebrate tongues. VII. Histochemical analysis of mucosubstances in the tongues of some fishes.

The tongues of three fishes were investigated histochemically to determine the distribution and nature of mucosubstances by employing recent techniques and the results were considered comparatively with the lingual mucosubstances of other vertebrates. A heterogenous distribution of neutral mucosubstances, sulfomucins and sialomucins in various lingual sites was noted. The taste buds and/or free nerve endings were found to be restricted in the areas containing abundance of goblet cells. In non-gustatory areas of tongue, the goblet cells were very few or absent. Importance of lingual histology in establishing phylogenetic relationships and the possible functional significance of the mucosubstances in the physiology of gustation is discussed in detail.

Alcian Blue↗

PubMed1976

Histochemical studies on mucosubstances in the prostate gland of the pulmonate snail Semperula maculata in the annual breeding-aestivation cycle.

Prostate gland of the pulmonate (terrestrial) snail Semperula maculata was studied histochemically for the presence of polysaccharides. PAS technique and differential staining methods employing Alcian blue, aldehyde fuchsin and Azure A at different pH values and combined with enzyme digestion test and lipid extraction were used. Two histochemically different cell types were found in the prostate gland: the type 1 cells which elaborate neutral mucosubstances and supposedly also phospholipoproteins, and type 2 cells producing glycogen. Both these cell types show seasonal fluctuations of the stores of materials secreted by them. Thus in type 1 cells the weakest histochemical reactivity indicating the lowest concentration of their secretion appears just after cessation of the snails' breeding activity (September) and persists throughout the post-breeding and early pre-breeding seasons which both together constitute the aestivation period. During the rest of the pre-breeding season a strong reactivity gradually develops and culminates in May i.e. immediately before the onset of the breeding activities which in turn initiate a decline of the reactivity. The type 2 cells become most reactive in the middle of the pre-breeding season (May) and decrease their reactivity after cessation of the breeding season. The number of both types of cells parallels the reactivity changes.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1975

Histochemical studies on the mucosubstances in the ovotestis of a hermaphrodite land pulmonate Semperula maculata in seasonal breeding-aestivation cycle.

With a view to augment the cytochemical localization characterization and, probable functional significance of mucosubstances in the ovotestis in the reproductive physiology of land pulmonates, the mucosubstances were investigated in the ovotestis of a land snail, Semperula maculata (Stylommatophora) in the seasonal breeding-aestivation cycle. Widely accepted, recent and well-established histochemical techniques were emoloyed. The results showed that the cells in the germinal epithelium of the follicular wall, were endowed with a capacity of synthesis of neutral muco-substances. They also contained glycogen. The nurse cells contained neutral mucosubstances and glycogen in them, while maturing ovum contained hyaluronic acid and protein. Among all the male germ cell stages, only matured sperms showed sialoglycoprotein in their heads and glycogen in the tails. The seasonal variations in the mucosubstances showed that the synthesis of the mucosubstances in the male germ cells of the ovotestis was initiated at the end of the breeding season and attained a maximum in the post-breeding season. Most strikingly the presence of the sperm in the follicular cavity was a permanent feature throughout the seasonal breeding-aestivation cycle of the snails. The synthesis of the mucosubstances in the ovum and the nurse cells was initiated somewhat earlier in the post-breeding season and attained a peak prior to the active breeding season. The importance of the mucosubstances synthesised by the different cells of the ovotestis, is discussed with reference to the reproductive physiology of the snails.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Studies on the mucosubstances elaborated by female duct of a land pulmonate Semperula maculata in seasonal breeding-aestivation cycle.

With a view to augmenting the understanding of the mucosubstances elaborated by the epithelial gland cells in the female duct of stylommatophoran pulmonate snail in general and finding out the seasonal variations in them during the breeding seasonal cycle of the snails in particular, the female duct mucosubstances were investigated in detail employing recent well-established histochemical techniques. The results showed that the gland cells in the female duct elaborated mucosubstances consisting of neutral mucins, glycogen, weakly sulfated sulfomucins, strongly sulfated sulfomucins and sialomucins. The study of cellular sites of mucosubstance elaboration showed that there are five different types of cells, the first type elaborated neutral mucins, the second weakly sulfated sulfomucins, the third strongly sulfated sulfomucins, the fourth sialomucins and the fifth glycogen. The seasonal variations in the mucosubstances showed that the acidic mucosubstance elaboration begins just before the post-breeding period and reaches a maximum in the pre-breeding season. Cyclic variations not only in the amount of the different mucosubstances but also in the number of cells elaborating them were witnessed in seasonal breeding-aestivation cycle. Since the results appear to indicate that the stages in the maturation of female sex cells in the ovotestis and uterus are closely related to the secretory process of the glandular cells in the female duct in the seasonal reproductive cycle of these snails, the importance of the mucosubstances secreted by the gland cells in the female duct is discussed with reference to the reproductive physiology of the snails.

Animals↗