Structure and Ultrastructure of the Sexual Segment of the Kidney in the Diurnal Saharan Lizard Uromastix acanthinurus, Bell 1825

M. Bahiani, T. Gernigon-Spychalowicz, J.-M. Exbrayat

Abstract


The lizard Uromastix acanthinurus living in the Algerian Sahara has the spring reproductive cycle when the epididymis and the sexual segment of kidney undergoes seasonal structural and ultrastructural variations. During breeding period (spring), the tubules of sexual segment of kidney are hypertrophied and actively secretive. They are lined with high cells in which both proteic and glycoproteic secretion granules are accumulated in the apical pole. These serous cells contain a euchromatic nucleus, an active nucleolus with granular and dense fibrillar components, and a fibrillar center; the cytoplasm contains a vesicular RER, several Golgi areas, multivesicular bodies, numerous mitochondria and secretion granules. During the resting period (summer, autumn, and winter), the tubules of sexual segment of kidney are surrounded by a dense connective tissue. Epithelial cells have now mucous secretion. These cells present a basal euchromatic nucleus with an active nucleolus. The apical cytoplasm contains mucigenous vesicles. Mitochondria with lamellar crests are concentrated in the basal part of the cells and the Golgi apparatus is supra nuclear. The plasma membrane develops lateral and basal folds.

Keywords


lizard; the sexual segment of the kidney; seasonal variations

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2005-12-0-249-251

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