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Varanus niloticus is a lizard residing within the Varanidae family. To date no studies detailing its blood morphology and characteristics have been conducted. This study used histologically stained blood and bone marrow samples to visualize the cells and their characteristics. The erythrocytes were nucleated, these nuclei were located in the middle of the elliptical cells. Hemoglobin filled the erythrocyte cytoplasm. Eosinophils were large cells with lobed nuclei and spherical acidophilic granules. Large granulocytes called heterophils were present and characterized by their fusiform/pleomorphic cytoplasmic granules. Small spherical granulocytes, known as basophils, presented with round, deeply stained metachromatic granules that gave the cytoplasm a dusty or cobblestoned appearance which was able to cover the nucleus, which in turn had an unusual shape. Thrombocytes ranged in shape from ellipsoidal to fusiform. They featured an elliptical, centrally located nucleus and a pale cytoplasm, with small vacuoles, and fine acidophilic granulation. The smallest variety of non‐granular leukocytes was the lymphocytes. Their cytoplasm was sparse, finely granular, light blue, had tiny cytoplasmic projections, featuring a high nucleus: cytoplasm ratio. Larger and smaller sized populations of lymphocytes were distinguished, with the larger cells similar in size to azurophils. In general, the pleomorphic monocytes were the biggest mononuclear leucocytes, displaying cytoplasmic projections. Their nuclei were ovoid, kidney‐ or bean‐shaped, with vacuolated and granular cytoplasms. Round cells were common among the monocytic azurophils, and they had a granular cytoplasm, and their nuclei were typically eccentric. The present research identifies the cell types and morphologies within the Varanus niloticus. Highlights: H&E, PAS, toluidine blue, methylene blue, and Safranin O stains provided morphological and morphometric descriptions of Varanus niloticus blood cells from blood smears and bone marrow.The Varanus niloticus had nucleated erythrocytes and white blood cells, mostly granulocytes (heterophils, eosinophils, and basophils) and mononuclear cells (azurophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes).Aquatic vertebrate Varanus niloticus had larger erythrocytes than terrestrial counterparts.Blood cell morphological and cytochemical features were similar to other reptilian species, with some species‐specific differences, which likely accommodate differing environmental conditions.These results may help clinical researchers track the pathological conditions and support conservation of these wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to investigate the gross anatomy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry of the stomach in the Caucasian squirrel. A total of five male squirrels were included. The obtained results showed that the shape of the stomach was acutely crescent and consisted of four regions namely; cardiac, fundus, body, and pylorus. The stomach glandular and its wall was consisted of four layers; serosa, muscularis, submucosa, and mucosa. All part of the mucosa was covered by a simple columnar epithelium. Furthermore, gastric glands were of the simple tubular type. The mucous cells of the fundic and body regions were PAS‐positive. In the lower third of the gastric glands, parietal, and chief cells were identified. The number of chief cells was increased toward the pyloric area. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the fundus region contained many plicae and grooves and each plica carried numerous glands opening. In the body region, cells were polygonal and formed network‐like structures. In the pyloric region, a mucosal ridge between the body and antrum and a thick mucosal crest on the lesser curvature were identified. Immunohistochemical staining showed that Sox9 was strongly expressed in the fundic region, however, its expression in the body and pylorus was moderate to weak. In conclusion, there are some similarities and differences between the stomach of the Caucasian squirrel and other mammals including rodents. The obtained results may enhance our basic knowledge regarding the feeding habits and digestive system histophysiology of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed to give complete histo‐and immunohistochemical features of the parabronchial epithelium of domestic fowl's (Gallus gallus domesticus) lung with special reference to Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mean transmission electron microscope (TEM) features. The lung exhibited variable‐sized atrial openings encircled by exchange tissue zones. The parabronchial atrial chambers appeared as ovoid and polygonal‐shaped that separated by the well‐developed interatrial septum. The deep atrial lumens had blood vessels pierced by openings that represent the infundibula. The parabronchial blood capillaries meshwork was branched and exhibited ovoid‐shaped air capillaries with numerous extravasated blood vessels. By TEM, there were several air capillaries and groups of squamous and endothelial respiratory cells and the squamous cells had oval nucleus with evenly distributed chromatin. The endothelial respiratory cells had few microvilli on their free surfaces. The parabronchial tubes opened into a group of widened atria that had smooth muscle bundles at the interatrial septa. The atrial chambers led to narrow infundibula. Moreover, the lining epithelium of parabronchi, atria, infundibula, and air capillaries was formed by simple squamous epithelium. Air capillary walls were lined by two types of respiratory cells (Types‐I and II). Collagen fibers were concentrated within the tunica externa layers of the parabronchial blood vessels as well as, they were observed in CT interparabronchial septa. Immunohistochemically, the elastin immunoreactivity was detected around the parabronchial blood vessels, at the base of each parabronchial atria, and in the area encircling the alveolar‐capillary walls. Our work concluded that there are a relation between the fowl's lifestyle and the surrounding environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are the only mammals that can fly in the dark without eye usage. This study was conducted to describe the structural and functional adaptations of the retina of two bats very common in the Egyptian fauna having a different lifestyle: the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and insectivorous bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii). Seven eyes were collected from adult individuals of each species. Examination of the retina using a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope was carried out. The retina of P. kuhlii was thicker than that of R. aegyptiacus, which had many projections extended from the choroid layer into retina forming papillae. Despite rods being dominant in retinae of both species, cone photoreceptors were encountered in both retinae. The outer plexiform layer of R. aegyptiacus was arranged into islets between the outer nuclear layer produced differences in its thickness. However, the retina of P. kuhlii showed a normal arrangement of retinal structure. The retinal pigment epithelium of both bat species consists of a single layer of the cuboidal cells with a round to oval vesicular nuclei, which showed a lack of pigmentation in R. aegyptiacus and poor pigmentation in the P. kuhlii. In conclusion, our investigation detected many structural and ultrastructural differences between the two bat species. The presence of many projections protruded from the choroid layer of R. aegyptiacus retina is considered the most characteristic difference between the retinae of R. aegyptiacus and P. kuhlii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to describe the anatomical features of the tongues of two micro‐mammals common in the Egyptian fauna; the Nile grass rat (Arvicathis niloticus), and the Egyptian long‐eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus). The tongues of five adult individuals of each species were excised and processed histologically, histochemically, and morphometrically. Statistical analysis comparing the relative tongue length in both species showed that there was a significant difference, which may correlate with the difference in feeding preferences. Grossly, the Nile grass rat has a dorsal lingual prominence with bifurcated apex while, the long‐eared hedgehog has a median slight elevation with rounded apex. Numerous forms of mechanical and gustatory papillae are scattered along the lingual dorsal epithelium. The histochemical detection of keratin by Holland's trichrome stain showed an intense expression in the case of A. niloticus and mild expression in H. auritus. The framework of the tongue (entoglossum) is supported by either a core of cartilage in H. auritus or bone in A. niloticus which incorporated in the lingual root. The lingual glands also showed marked variation, the Nile grass rat exhibit dense populations of mucous‐secreting glands and lesser populations of serous‐secreting glands, the contrary is true in H. auritus. In conclusion, the micro and macro‐anatomical features of the tongues of both species showed adaptive changes to accommodate the feeding lifestyle. Such type of studies using mammals from different phylogenetic traits and almost have different feeding preferences provide answers to many research questions related to tongue evolution among mammalian vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]