Contribution to the histology of Biomphalaria glabrata.
A combination of histological techniques applied to the study of Biomphalaria glabrata yielded some interesting new data about the histology of this snail, a major intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil. Three kinds of pigments were identified: a dark pigment which bleached following oxidation with potassium permanganate; a lipofuchsin-like, diastase-resistant PAS-positive pigment and an iron-containing pigment, probably related to hemosiderin. Calcium was detected in small deposits within the connective tissue and forming a dense core inside the chitinous radular teeth. The presence of fibrils, staining with Sirius-red and birefringence under polarized light strongly suggest primitive collagen tissue. The radular apparatus appeared as a storing site for glycogen, while abundant Alcian-blue positive material (proteoglycans) was extremely concentrated in the radular sac.
Lemos
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Laboratório de Patologia Experimental, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz/FIOCRUZ, Salvador, Brasil.
D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods