ABSTRACT This report examines the effects of calcium anacardate (CA) on the morphology, histology, and proteomics of the testes and epididymal ducts of breeding quail. To that end, 22 140-day-old males were grouped in four treatments, each with different concentrations of CA: 0% (control), 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%. The testicles of the animals were weighed and measured, and proteins from the testicles were separated by 1D SDS-PAGE and analyzed via mass spectrometry. Overall, 35 bands were identified in the testicular tissue gels of European quail. Of these, 13 were significantly different, with treatment 0.75% CA being different from the control in all bands. Significant differences among the mean heights of the seminiferous epithelium and diameters of the epididymal duct were observed. In the control group, the average height of the seminiferous epithelium was 71.2 µm, and in 0.75% CA, it was 45.6 µm. Supplementing feed with CA altered the expression of specific proteins, such as superoxide dismutase and heat shock proteins, of the seminal plasma of quail, in addition to facilitating histological alterations regarding the height of the seminiferous epithelium and the diameter of the epididymal duct, improving the reproductive parameters.

ABSTRACT Secretory structures are formed by many types of plants and are present on numerous different organs. Among the many types of known secretory structures, colleters are predominant on plants of the Rubiaceae. One remarkable characteristic of secretory tissues is the export of exudates; however, the precise mechanism involved in this process is still unclear. To better understand the mechanisms of exudate externalization it is necessary to understand the ultrastructure and dynamics of the outer cell wall of the secretory structures during the secretory process, and so we investigated these aspects of the colleters of Bathysa nicholsonii. The outer cell wall (OCW) exhibits multiple layers: a basal polysaccharide rich layer; a cuticular membrane, which is subdivided into arborescent and reticulated layers; and a thin cuticle proper. The structural organization of the OCW is changed during secretion passage, which is mainly related to the development of a secretion accumulation site on the polysaccharide rich layer. Secretion dynamics is driven by the organization and disruption of the secretion accumulation site. The results show that the OCW of the colleters of B. nicholsonii is a dynamic structure with an active role in secretion externalization via constant structural reorganization directly related to secretion passage.

(Ultraestrutura da fase secretora e da senescente dos coléteres de Bathysa gymnocarpa e B. stipulata (Rubiaceae)). Coléteres são estruturas secretoras formadas por um eixo parenquimático que inclui feixes vasculares, circundado por uma camada de células epidérmicas secretoras em paliçada. Em estudos sobre a estrutura dos coléteres tem sido observada a ultraestrutura das células secretoras, mas não discriminam as fases secretora e senescente. Geralmente, em células secretores de mucilagem como os coléteres, o retículo endoplasmático e o complexo de Golgi estão envolvidos na produção e no transporte da secreção. Neste estudo, foram determinadas duas fases baseadas na estrutura dos coléteres de Bathysa gymnocarpa K. Schum. and B. stipulata (Vell.) C. Presl. (Rubiaceae): a fase secretora e a fase senescente. Amostras foram coletadas e processadas utilizando técnicas usuais de microscopia óptica e eletrônica. Os coléteres estudados são constituídos por uma camada epidérmica em paliçada e um eixo central parenquimático com traços vasculares raros. Durante a fase secretora, as células epidérmicas se apresentam com o citoplasma denso, pequenos vacúolos, retículo endoplasmático liso e rugoso evidente e complexo de Golgi próximo a grandes vesículas. Durante a fase senescente, as células epidérmicas apresentaram o sistema endomembranar desorganizado. Nenhuma organela intacta ou vesícula foi observada. A parede celular mais externa exibiu camadas similares às observadas durante a fase secretora. A fase senescente é facilmente definida pela morfologia do coléter, mas não é bem definida em nível subcelular nas células secretoras. Nossa investigação sugere que a morte celular programada se inicia na fase secretora. Contudo, mais evidências são necessárias para avaliar esse fenômeno.

(Ultrastructure of secretory and senescence phase in colleters of Bathysa gymnocarpa and B. stipulata (Rubiaceae)). Colleters are secretory structures formed by a parenchymatic axis with vascular bundles, bound by a layer of secretory palisade-like epidermis. Some studies regarding the structure of colleters have focused on secretory cells structure, but not distinguished the secretory and senescent phases. Generally, in mucilage-secreting cells such as colleters, the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are involved in secretion production and transport. In these study, colleters structure of Bathysa gymnocarpa K. Schum. and B. stipulata (Vell.) C. Presl. (Rubiaceae) were determined in two phases: a secretory phase and a senescence one. Samples were collected and processed by usual light and electron microscopy techniques. Studied colleters are constituted by an epidermal palisade layer and a central axis formed by parenchymatic cells with rare vascular traces. During the secretory phase, epidermal cells presented a dense cytoplasm, small vacuoles, enhanced rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and a Golgi apparatus close to large vesicles. During the senescence phase epidermal cells presented a disorganized membrane system. No intact organelles or vesicles were observed. The outer cell wall exhibited similar layers to that observed during the secretory phase. The senescent phase is easily defined by the morphology of the colleters, but not well defined at subcellular level. Our research suggests that programmed cell death starts on secretory phase. However, more evidences are needed to evaluate the phenomena.