title: Histology and ultrastructure of male mullerian gland of Uraeotyphlus narayani (Amphibia: Gymnophiona).
abstract: This study reports the anatomy, histology, and ultrastructure of the male Mullerian gland of the caecilian Uraeotyphlus narayani, based on dissections, light microscopic histological and histochemical preparations, and transmission electron microscopic observations. The posterior end of the Mullerian duct and the urinogenital duct of this caecilian join to form a common duct before opening into the cloaca. The boundary of the entire gland has a pleuroperitoneum, followed by smooth muscle fibers and connective tissue. The Mullerian gland is composed of numerous individual tubular glands separated from each other by connective tissue. Each gland has a duct, which joins the central Mullerian duct. The ducts of the tubular glands are also surrounded by abundant connective tissue. The tubular glands differ between the column and the base in regard to the outer boundary and the epithelial organization. The basement membrane of the column is so thick that amoeboid cells may not penetrate it, whereas that around the base of the gland is thin and appears to allow migration of amoeboid cells into and out of the basal aspect of the gland. The epithelium of the column has nonciliated secretory cells with basal nuclei and ciliated nonsecretory cells with apical nuclei. In the epithelium of the base there are secretory cells, ciliated cells, and amoeboid cells. The epithelium of ducts of the tubular glands is formed of ciliated dark cells and microvillated light cells. The epithelium of the central duct is formed of ciliated dark cells also possessing microvilli, ciliated light cells also possessing microvilli, and microvillated light cells that lack cilia. It is regressed during March to June when the testis lobes are in a state of quiescence. The Mullerian gland is active in secretion during July to February when the testis is active in spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli-620 024, India.
authors.forename: Jancy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smita
authors.forename: Oommen V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Oommen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akbarsha
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008871:Microvilli / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009095:Mullerian Ducts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure