Estudo histológico e localização imuno-histoquímica de proteínas do citoesqueleto em ovários, testículos e epidídimos de três espécies de lagartos da Família Leiosauridae (Reptilia: Squamata)

Abstract

Cap. I The aim of the current study is to investigate the histological and histochemical description, as well as the presence and immunohistochemical distribution of cytoskeleton proteins such as alpha smooth muscle actin, desmin and vimentin in the ovaries, testes and epididymis of Enyalius bilineatus, Enyalius perditus and Urostrophus vautieri. These species are representatives of family Leiosauridae, in order to help developing a database on the reproductive biology of these lizards, which could be compared to that of other reptile species and vertebrates. The herein studied specimens are deposited in the Herpetological Collection of Federal University of Juiz de Fora. The animals‟ ovaries, epididymis and testes were removed and sent to the Histology and Embryology Laboratory (UFRRJ), where they were fixed, processed and then subjected to histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. The ovaries of these leiosauridae are functionally-active paired organs filled with ovarian follicles at different follicular development stages. These organs are covered by a simple cubic epithelium, which presents an underlying connective tissue layer called tunica albuginea. The testes are covered by the tunica albuginea and hold septa forming lobes where the seminiferous tubules are located in. The epididymis of these lizards are convolute ducts internally coated by an epithelium, whose shape ranges from simple cylindrical to simple cubic with stereocilia. The immunohistochemical analysis applied to the ovaries of the herein studied lizards showed moderate to strong reaction to the alpha smooth muscle actin in the teak layer and in endothelial cells of blood vessels. With respect to the species‟ testes, this cytoskeleton protein showed strong reaction in the tunica albuginea, interstitial tissue, and in endothelial cells of blood vessels. As for the epididymis, the alpha-actin showed immunohistochemical reaction in the capsule and in the interstitial tissue of the lizards. The antibody „desmin‟ showed strong immunostaining in the albuginea and ovarian stroma of E. perditus, only; however, the endothelial cells in the blood vessels of the three herein analyzed species showed positive reaction to this intermediate filament. Desmin showed immunoreactivity in the testicular albuginea and in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels in the herein analyzed leiosauridae testes; however, only E. bilineatus showed immunostaining in the interstitial region. Desmin showed positive immunoreaction in the epididymis of E. perditus and E. bilineatus, only. Vimentin did not show immunostaining in the ovaries, testes and epididymis of the three analyzed lizards. The consistent results found in the current study provide additional data on the reproductive biology of the investigated species. These data may be used for phylogenetic and behavioral comparisons between the herein studied species and other species belonging to family Leiosauridae or other reptiles Cap. II The aim of the current study is to investigate the histological description, as well as the presence and immunohistochemical distribution of alpha smooth muscle actin, desmin and vimentin in the testes and epididymis of Enyalius bilineatus, Enyalius perditus and Urostrophus vautieri, which are representatives of family Leiosauridae, in order to help developing a database on the reproductive biology of these lizards, which could be compared to that of other reptile species and vertebrates. The herein studied specimens are deposited in the Herpetological Collection of Federal University of Juiz de Fora. The animals‟ epididymis and testes were removed and sent to the Histology and Embryology Laboratory (UFRRJ), where they were fixed, processed and then subjected to histological and immunohistochemical techniques. The shape of the testes varies reasonably among the studied leiosauridae. These organs are covered by the tunica albuginea and hold septa forming lobes, where the seminiferous tubules are located in. The epididymis of these lizards are convolute ducts internally coated by an epithelium, whose shape ranges from simple cylindrical to simple cubic with stereocilia. The immunohistochemical analysis applied to the testes of the herein studied lizards showed strong positive reaction to the alpha smooth muscle actin in the tunica albuginea, interstitial tissue, and in endothelial cells of blood vessels. Desmin showed strong immunoreactivity in the testicular albuginea of E. bilineatus and moderate immunoreactivity in E. perditus and U. vautieri; however, only E. bilineatus showed immunostaining in the interstitial tissue region. The endothelial cells of blood vessels showed positive immunoreaction to desmin in the three herein analyzed species. The epididymis showed moderate immunohistochemical reaction to alpha smooth muscle actin in the capsule and in the interstitial tissue, whereas desmin showed positive immunoreaction in the epididymis of E. perditus and E. bilineatus, only. Vimentin did not show immunostaining in the testes and epididymis of the three analyzed lizards. The consistent results found in the current study provide additional data on the reproductive biology of the investigated species. These data may be used for phylogenetic and behavioral comparisons between the herein studied species and other species belonging to family Leiosauridae or other reptiles.