Hyaluronan in the epidermal and the dermal extracellular matrix: its role in cutaneous hydric balance and integrity of anuran integument.
New researches have revealed that hyaluronan (HA) is not a passive molecule. HA has being pointed out to participate in many processes, such as cell interactions, proliferating and migrating cell events and function as hydrate agent. The present study was undertaken to localize HA in Bufo ictericus integument providing a better understating for the role of cutaneous HA. Paraffinized sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and with 1% Alcian blue 8GX at pH 1.0 and 2.5. Alcianophilic reaction was visualized in both spongious dermis and Eberth-Katschenko layer. The mucus cells of mucus glands were also stained with AB methods. Besides these histological techniques, the localization of HA was performed using the FITC-labeled HA probe labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. In the extracellular matrix of spongious dermis, the reaction for HA was evident, being less intense in hypodermis and in pericellular keratinocyte matrix of the cornified tubercles regions. Thus, since HA was localized in the pericellular epidermal matrix and in the spongious dermis of anuran integument, it plays an important role in hydric balance, and is essential for integument integrity and functionality.
Azevedo
Rodrigo Alves
RA
Laboratory of Animal and Comparative Histology, Department of Histology and Embryology, Av. Trompowsky s/no, CCS, bl. B1-017, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21540-970, UFRJ, RJ, Brazil. bio_rodrigoaa@yahoo.com.br
Carvalho
Hernandez Faustino
HF
de Brito-Gitirana
Lycia
L
D000818:Animals; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000502:physiology*; D020405:Dermis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate