•Lingual structural and functional study of chameleon is proposed referring to its development.•Histological and histoalchemical studies show varied shapes of lingual papillae.•Chameleons have ...cartilaginous elements in the med-tongue and glandular fore-tongue.
It is belong to the order Squamata, family, Chamaeleonidae. They have characteristic features of tongue protrusion during capturing prey attracts many research works and assay its velocity during protrusion. Yet little studies touched the anatomical and histological feature of the juvenile tongue and especially the middle tongue region involved in the tongue elongation, the present study aimed to focus on the histological structure of the mid-tongue and clarify its role in projection of the tongue as well as the glandular structure, keratinization of lingual epithelium and proliferation capacity of the fore-tongue region in relation with their feeding habits during the juvenile age. Juvenile Chameleo chameleon are collected from Abu Rawash, north of Giza Governorate, Egypt during summer 2015. Three juvenile developmental stages are used in the present study and categorized according to the gross morphological criteria of head, abdomen and limb lengths. The tongue and hyoid apparatus were removed and photographed. Histological, immunohistochemistry of cytokeratin and stem cell factor and scanning electronic microscopic investigations were carried out on the fore-tongue region, meanwhile only histological studies were done for the median tongue region. Morphometric assessments of number and length of lingual papillae and grades of cytokeratin and stem cell expression were done. Histologically, the dorsal lingual mucosa of the fore-tongue possessed different pattern of lingual papillae including finger-like, club, cubical, biforked and multi-branched papillae. The finger-like papillae are more abundant compared to the other types. The lamina propria of anterior median tongue pad are more glandular and exhibited abundant distribution of PAS-positive tubular glands and moderate alcian blue staining affinity of both alveolar and branched alveolar glands. There is no detected keratinization of the lingual epithelium. Stem cell factor appeared denser on the lingual mucosa and cell boundaries of glandular tissues. The mid-tongue region possessed a central cartilaginous core outlined by double layers of connective tissue coat and longitudinal and circular muscle fibers which give the power of protrusion of tongue. It is the first time to record the presence of cartilaginous elements in the mid-tongue region of chameleon. Finally the authors concluded that the juvenile stages of common chameleon exhibited striking cartilaginous inner compartment of the med-tongue and glandular fore-tongue adapted for capturing prey coincides with high proliferated activities and presence of different kinds of non-keratinized lingual papillae.
Pure and manganese-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (MnTiO
-NPs) were synthesized by the defect-oriented hydrothermal approach. The synthesized material was then characterized by X-ray ...diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The agar well diffusion method assessed the antibacterial efficiency of TiO
and MnTiO
-NPs against
and
. Zone of inhibition (ZOI) formed by pure TiO
was observed as 12 mm and 11.5 mm against E.
and
, while for MnTiO
-NPs it was observed as 19 mm (
) and 21 mm (
). The concentration of synthesized nanoparticles (10 mg/ml, and 20 mg/ml) was used for antibacterial studies. The efficacy of the pure and MnTiO
-NPs as an active photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye was also assessed using a UV light. It was observed that the photodegradation efficiency of 1 g of MnTiO
-NPs was higher than the same amount of pure TiO
. The results suggest that the photocatalyst concentration directly impacts the photodegradation of MB dye. The pH value was found to influence the photodegradation of MB dye at higher pH values. Based on the obtained results, MnTiO
-NPs were observed as a promising agent for microbial resistance and water remediation.
•Structural and functional study of the skin of Chameleo chameleon.•The skin is described histologically and show different levels of immunoreactivity.•A characteristic epidermal sensory organ ...observed for Chameleo chameleon.•Skin structures of Chameleo chameleon is adapted to suit its terrestrial life and coloring changes.
Little is known about the skin structure of juvenile chameleon especially its sensory function of their integumentary structure. Fifteen juvenile Chameleo chameleon are collected from Abu Rawash, Northern area of Giza, Egypt during Summer of 2015. It is belong to the order Squamata, family, Chamaeleonidae. Three ages are used in the present study and categorized according to the morphological criteria of head, abdomen and limb lengths. Dorsal abdominal surfaces are covered with abdominal scales of varying sizes either conical or elliptical-structures, regularly arranged in rows and imbricated with each other. Each scale possessed one cylindrical lenticular epidermal sense organ containing heavy sensillia. Histologically, the scales are characterized by wider conical surfaces and intermingled with another one by hinge region. The epidermal layer of outer scale surface is composed of five-layered stratified squamous epithelium including the stratum germinativum, intermediate zone of stratum spinosum and granulosum, α-keratin layer, β-keratin layer and outer superficial Oberhaütchen. Melanosomes are abundant in the intermediate zone as well as in the peripheral dermal layer underneath stratum germinativum layer. The melanosomes possessed long cellular processes with their content of melanin granules underneath the epidermis. The dermis is composed of upper collagenous and inner compact layer. Semithin sections revealed the presence of fibroblast cells, collagenous fibrils, nerve axons, melanosomes and mast cells in the connective tissue core. Increased immunoreaction of cytokeratin is observed in the epidermal layers of G3; meanwhile, an increased proliferation of epidermal and dermal cells was detected in G1. Transmission electron microscopy exhibited striking formation of dermal sense organs containing neuronal cells of both oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells with myelinated and unmyelinated nerve axons ensheathed externally by thin collagenous fibers. Finally, the author concluded that the juvenile chameleon skin is keratinized with obvious external and internal sensation and abundant mast cells within dermis giving characteristic immunity. The melanosomes are dispersed within epidermis and dermis allowing the animal to maintain its color alterations according to the surrounding environment.
Antibiotic drug resistance is a global public health issue that demands new and novel therapeutic molecules. To develop new agents, animal secretions or products are used as an alternative agent to ...overcome this problem. In this study, earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) coelomic fluid (PCF), and body paste (PBP) were used to analyze their effects as antibiofilm agents against four bacterial isolates MH1 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa MT448672), MH2 (Escherichia coli MT448673), MH3 (Staphylococcus aureus MT448675), and MH4 (Klebsiella pneumoniae MT448676). Coelomic fluid extraction and body paste formation were followed by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), biofilm formation time kinetics, and an antibiofilm assay, using heat and cold shock, sunlight exposure auto-digestion, and test tube methods. The results showed that the MIC values of PCF and PBP against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli bacterial isolates ranged from 50 to 100 μg/mL, while, the results related to biofilm formation for P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae strains were observed to be highly significantly increased (p < 0.005) after 72 h. E. coli produced a significant (p < 0.004) amount of biofilm after 48 h. Following time kinetics, the antibiofilm activity of PCF and PBP was tested at different concentrations (i.e., 25–200 μg/mL) against the aforementioned four strains (MH1–MH4). The findings of this study revealed that both PBP (5.61 ± 1.0%) and PCF (5.23 ± 1.5%) at the lowest concentration (25 μg/mL) showed non-significant (p > 0.05) antibiofilm activity against all the selected strains (MH1-MH4). At 50 μg/mL concentration, both PCF and PBP showed significant (p < 0.05) biofilm inhibition (<40%) for all isolates. Further, the biofilm inhibitory potential was also found to be more significant (p < 0.01) at 100 μg/mL of PCF and PBP, while it showed highly significant (p < 0.001) biofilm inhibition at 150 and 200 μg/mL concentrations. Moreover, more than 90% biofilm inhibition was observed at 200 μg/mL of PCF, while in the case of the PBP, <96% biofilm reduction (i.e., 100%) was also observed by all selected strains at 200 μg/mL. In conclusion, earthworm body fluid and paste have biologically active components that inhibit biofilm formation by various pathogenic bacterial strains. For future investigations, there is a need for further study to explore the potential bioactive components and investigate in depth their molecular mechanisms from a pharmaceutical perspective for effective clinical utilization.
Recent literature has demonstrated only adult avian palate, albeit there has been only limited focus on the postnatal development of the avian oropharyngeal cavity roof. Hence, the current ...investigation was designed to obtain the full ultrastructure postnatal description of the oropharyngeal roof during the five developmental age‐stages of Coturnix coturnix by employing assessments using gross morphometric analysis and stero and scanning electron microscopy. The elongated triangular oropharyngeal roof has a spoonful rounded beak tip. The palate region is subdivided into the rostral ridged area and the choanal area. The palate has eight longitudinal palatine ridges (seven nonpapillated and one papillated median) and four transverse papillary rows (one slightly oblique row and three transverse papillary crests). The median palatine ridge continuous caudally and is then divided into three ridges: one median and two paramedian ridges (forming the lateral boundaries of the choanal field). The choanal field had three regions (rostral, middle, and caudal). The finger‐like projection papillary region has five papillae. The choanal cleft has two unequal parts (rostral and caudal). The rostral nonpapillated short choanal part is subdivided by transverse papillary row into rostral narrow straight and caudal diamond portions. The caudal wide papillated choanal part is further divided by a second transverse crest into rostral long (encircled by interdigitated papillae) and caudal short wider part (not encircled by interdigitated papillae). The infundibular cleft is not bordered by any papillae, while the pharyngeal region has numerous papillae and openings of the salivary glands. Moreover, the morphometric analysis revealed a higher value with increasing age for all dimensions. Our findings indicated a higher degree of functional adaptation between the five developmental age stages of quail. Our observations suggest that adaptations such as these may increase the efficiency of food prehension with increasing age.
Palate subdivided into the rostral area and choanal area. The Choanal field had three regions: rostral, middle, and caudal. The choanal cleft divided into two unequal parts: rostral and caudal papillated. The caudal part divided by the second crest into the rostral and caudal part.
The present study was designed to provide a complete morphological description of the eye of the migratory Garganey duck (Anas querquedula) and its visual adaptation with the different surrounding ...environmental conditions during its migration journeys using a stereomicroscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and light microscope. The current work depends on six adult Garganey ducks that were captured from the area near and on the shores of Edku city. The obtained results revealed that the eye of the migratory Garganey duck has the features of both diurnal and nocturnal birds. The histological examination reveals that the pigmented epithelium of the retina has long prolongations filled with melanin. The cone is the dominant photoreceptor, but simple rods are present. The inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers are thick. SEM examination shows that the arrangement of the collagen fibrils on the external surface was reticular in shape. The radial folds present as pledged structures on the pigmented epithelium covered with circular structures. The main lens body has flat with hexagonal outlines fibers. The edges and surfaces of these hexagonal fibers were studded with protrusions or elevations (balls) and depressions (sockets). The sockets and balls were either rounded or ellipsoid in shape. The balls were more on the edges and the sockets on the surface. In conclusion, our findings indicated a higher degree of functional adaptation between the morphological structure of the eye and the surrounding environmental conditions.
The obtained results revealed that the eye had the features of both diurnal and nocturnal birds. The pigmented epithelium of the retina had long prolongations filled with melanin. The cone is the dominant photoreceptors, but simple rods are present. The radial folds present as pledged structures on the pigmented epithelium covered with circular structures.
The present investigations were designed to describe the ultrastructural properties of the eye of the golden gray mullet (Chelon aurata). For this purpose, the eyes were examined grossly, and by ...light and electron microscope. The external layer consists of the cornea and the sclera. Three layers compose the cornea; the anterior stratified cuboidal epithelial; the anterior limiting (Bowman) membrane; and the thick dermal layer of the stroma. The mucoidal layer has small collagen fiber bundles embedded in the CT layer and located between the anterior portion of the scleral cornea and the dermal stroma, (or “substancia propria”). The iridescent layer is thin at the center and thick at the periphery. It contains a pigmented layer with many ossicles. SEM analysis reveals that the cornea consists of undetermined shaped cells joined together by numerous thread‐like micro‐ridges, with several micro‐tubercles on the external surface. The photoreceptor layer had two types of cells: the rod‐shaped and the cone‐shaped cells. The cone cells differentiate into two types of cells: single and double cells. SEM analysis of the retina showed that rod cells appear as thin long uniform rod‐like, while the cone cells appear as rod cells with ovoid bases. SEM analysis demonstrates that the inner side of the retinal epithelium appears to be wrapped around itself. The morphological appearance of the eye adapts to life in superficial aquatic conditions. In conclusion, the current findings provide morphologic evidence to better understand the mechanism of fish vision adaptation to environmental conditions.
Research Highlights
The transparent cornea composed of three layers; anterior stratified cuboidal epithelial, Bowman's membrane, and a thick dermal stromal layer. The mucoidal layer is formed from small collagen fibers bundles embedded in the CT layer and located between the anterior portion of the scleral cornea and the dermal stroma. There are two types of photoreceptor cells: rod and cone cells. Cone cells can be single and double cells.
Morphological images of the eye of golden gray mullet (Chelon aurata): View A: Represent the lateral view of the golden gray mullet fish, while view B represent the photomicrograph of cornea and iris to demonstrate; the dermal cornea (CD) that consists of corneal epithelium layer (EP) and dermal stroma (SD), mucoid layer (M), scleral cornea (CS), iridescent layer (I), ossicles of iris (OI), pigment of iris (PI), posterior scleral stroma (Pc), anterior scleral stroma (Ac), ciliary process (CP), Sclerae (SC), and iridocorneal junction (ICJ). H&E stain ×100. View C: represent SEM micrograph of the ultrastructural features of the external corneal surface formed from undetermined shape cells joined together by numerous thread‐like microridges (Ri), microtubercles (T) on their external surface.
The present study represents the first trial to characterize the ultrastructural of five ages of Coturnix coturnix. Lingual nail had membrane that differ in number among five studied ages. Filiform ...papillary system had four caudally directed papillae types; small (apex, rostral, and median part of body in 1 day, body in 10 and 20 days), long (apex and rostral part of body in 10 days, tip and two lateral area in 20, 30, 40‐days, lateral border in 1 and 10 days, two lateral area of body in 40 days), broad (median area of body in 20, 30, 40 days). Scales on the ventral surface of apex, mound. Lingual sulci on the apex and body without reaching tip in 10, 20, 30, 40‐days while, in 1 day the body had ridge caudally. Three papillae on posterior part of lateral border of body. W‐shape crest had papillae on its median part while, its lateral part had two giant papillae on each side. Dorsal giant papillae terminated caudally with six processes, while ventral papillae terminated caudally with three processes. The unique root appearance, at 1 day had four papillae while in 10‐day, it had one papilla however in 20, 30, 40 days, it had T‐shaped ridge. Mound had one longitudinal row on each side of cleft and two transverse papillary rows at its caudal border and additional row at 40‐days. Our findings exposed unique structural and functional characterizations of lingual and laryngeal entrance that reflected with feeding behavior.
Lingual nail had membrane that differ in number among five studied ages. Filiform papillary system had four caudally directed papillae types. Scales on the ventral surface of apex, mound. Lingual sulci on the apex and body without reaching tip in 10, 20, 30, 40 days while, in 1 day the body had ridge caudally. Three papillae on posterior part of lateral border of body. W‐shape crest had papillae on its median part while, its lateral part had two giant papillae on each side. Dorsal giant papillae terminated caudally with six processes, while ventral papillae terminated caudally with three processes. The root, at 1 day had four papillae while in 10 day, it had one papilla however in 20, 30, 40 days, it had T‐shaped ridge. Mound had one longitudinal row on each side of cleft and two transverse papillary rows at its caudal border and additional row at 40 days.
Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, ...isolation, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial health is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from more than one thousand responders on social participation and life satisfaction.
Thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in 7 languages (English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" confinement conditions.
1047 participations (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%), and others (3%) were included in the analysis. Findings revealed psychosocial strain during the enforced COVID-19 home confinement. Large decreases (
< 0.001) in the amount of social activity through family (-58%), friends/neighbors (-44.9%), or entertainment (-46.7%) were triggered by the enforced confinement. These negative effects on social participation were also associated with lower life satisfaction (-30.5%) during the confinement period. Conversely, the social contact score through digital technologies significantly increased (
< 0.001) during the confinement period with more individuals (+24.8%) being socially connected through digital technology.
These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested.
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