ARTICLE
TITLE

Morphological aspects and germ cells of male reproductive tract of river stingray, Potamotrygon amandae

SUMMARY

The family Potamotrygonidae are the only species of stingrays restricted to fresh water and located exclusively in South America. The objective of this research was to analyze the morphological aspects and germ cells of the male reproductive tract of Potamotrygon amandae. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin, and then dehydrated in an ascending ethanol series (70 to 100%). To carry out light microscopy analyses, they were embedded in paraffin, cut and stained; as for scanning electron microscopy analyses, the samples were dried, glued in metallic bases and metalized. The gross morphology consisted of the following paired organs: testis, epididymis, deferent duct, Leydig gland, seminal vesicle, clasper, and the clasper gland. Microscopically, several stages of spermatogenesis were observed in the testis, occurring in spherical follicles, similar to other stingrays. The epididymis was formed by one duct subdivided in various tubules. The deferent ducts were continuous with the epididymis, and the lumen was full of spermatozoa. The Leydig glands consisted of glandular units with eosinophilic content in the lumen of some, and the deferent ducts ran parallel to the ventral portion. The seminal vesicles possessed numerous compartments to store the sperm, with a wall similar to a hive, and the lumen was full of spermatozoa. Alcian Blue (AB) and Periodic Schiff-Acid (PAS) performed in the Leydig Gland, deferens ducts and seminal vesicle was positive only in the connective tissue, the cilia were PAS+ and the nuclei stained weakly for AB. The clasper gland was composed of unit glands and was covered with striated muscle externally. It stained very well with Periodic Schiff-Acid. The morphological aspects of the male reproductive tract of Potamotrygon amandae were similar to other stingrays.

 Articles related

Fred Bayo YAKUBU, Emmanuel Chukwudi CHUKWUMA, Elizabeth Adetutu AWOSAN    

A systematic study was carried out on Dennettia tripetala to establish an alternative method of propagation and further provide complementary characters for the identification of the species especially in sterile conditions. All methods followed those of... see more


E.J. Raubenheimer    

AbstractThis study was aimed at determining the origin of the diamond shaped pattern and composition of ivory of the African elephant. Fragments of ivory and tusks were obtained through the National Parks Board from the Kruger Park, Addo Elephant Park, K... see more


ADRIANA CRISTE,NICODIM FIT,ANCA BOARU    

The humor immune response is mediated by antibodies synthesized as specific response against antigens. Our investigation aimed to emphasize the presence of the natural IgY antibodies from hen, quail, and duck eggs, and their molecular and morphological c... see more


F.S. De Ponte, G. Cutroneo, R. Falzea, G. Rizzo, L. Catalfamo, A. Favaloro, G. Vermiglio, M. Runci, A. Centofanti, G. Anastasi    

Bone graft are used in dentistry for the reconstruction of severely atrophic jaws. Fresh frozen bone has no osteogenic property but it has osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties because its matrix contains growth factors such as vascular endotheli... see more


Olesia TIELIEZHKINA,Liana NAUMENKO,Oksana ZHYGLO,Iryna PALASEVYCH,??iya BABKINA,Mariia VOLOSHYN    

The main purpose of the study is to analyze the neuropsychological and neurolinguistic foundations of speech activation in the educational process. Human speech activity is closely connected with all spheres of human consciousness. The history of the exi... see more