Testicular morphology and histochemical of Pseudonannolene tocaiensis

The testicle of Pseudonannolene tocaiensis Fontanetti, 1996, consists of a large deferent duct composed by a simple secretory epithelium, to which numerous testicular vesicles are attached by a short pedicle. The testicular vesicles are formed by an epithelial wall; the cells of this wall give rise to the gametocytes that gradually fill the vesicles’ lumen. There is a synchronism in the development of the cells inside each testicular vesicle, that is, only one developmental stage (either spermatozoa, spermatids, spermatocytes, or spermatogonies) is found occupying a single vesicle. The mature testicular vesicles, those that carry mature spermatozoa, present a very peculiar constitution: a) a peripheric portion, b) a central portion with typical secretory characteristics, and c) between these two portions, there is an intermediary portion where the spermatozoa can be found. Histochemical data are the first time reported in the testicles of the group. The results suggest that the testicular vesicles and the deferent duct are responsible for the production of the spermatic liquid in species of Pseudonannolene. Key Words: Diplopoda, histochemistry, morphology, testicular vesicle

SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE Pars Stridens OF Gryllus: TAXONOMIC IMPORTANCE.

The genus Gryllus has several cryptic species, which cannot be distinguished by external morphological characters. The present paper analyses the pars stridens of 7 species under the scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the pars stridens of the species have morphological differences on teeth shape. Based on these results, we propose that an analysis of the pars stridens under the scanning electron microscope should always be performed in order to reveal characters utilized in Gryllus taxonomy, especially if associated with pars stridens morphometric data. Key words: Gryllus, pars stridens, SEM, Cryptic species

Chromosome numbers of some Brazilian species of diplopods (Diplopoda, Arthropoda)

The present paper presents the chromosome numbers of five brazilian species of diplopods: Plusioporus setiger (2n = 10 and 2n= 10+ lB, the distinction of the sexual pair was not possible), Pseudonannolene ophiulus (2n=12, XY), Pseudonannolene halophila (2n=16, XY), Rhinocricus sp. (2n=28, XY) and Rhinocricus padbergi (2n=20, the distinction of the sexual pair was not possible)

Description of three cave diplopods of Pseudonannolene Silvestri (Diplopoda, Pseudonannolenida, Pseudonannolenidae)

Three new species of Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 diplopods are described: P. anapophysis (type locality, "Caverna Lapão", Bahia), P. imbirensis (type locality, "Caverna São Mateus", Imbira III, Goiás), and P. chaimowiczi (Minas Gerais, Bahia

Description of a new species and the karyotype of the cavernicolous millipede Pseudonannolene Silvestri and the karyotype of Pseudonannolene strinatti Mauriès (Diplopoda, Pseudonannolenida, Pseudonannolenidae)

Pseudonannolene tocaiensis, sp.n. is described from Brazil, São Paulo, Itirapina. The karyotypes of P. tocaiensis, sp.n. and P. strinatti Mauriès, 1974 are also presented, both species are found in cave environments. P. tocaiensis has 2n=20, XY and P. strinatti, 2n=16; it was not possible to observe the sex determination mechanism in the latter.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Sewage sludge toxicity in edaphic organism: Analysis of midgut responses in the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi

Diplopods are agile saprophagous invertebrates with the ability to colonize several soil layers. They feed on waste and decaying organic matter, making the soil in which they are present better aerated and mineral-enriched. Because of their habits, diplopods have been suggested to be used in studies to analyze possible toxic effects of impacted soils in edafic fauna. In that respect, this study aimed at checking the feasibility of using morphological analysis from millipede's midgut as a biomarker for soils exposed to sewage sludge from sewage treatment plants. Histological and histochemical techniques, applied to the species Rhinocricus padbergi's midgut, were used. Two sewage sludge samples were used; they were collected in two small towns in the countryside of São Paulo State. Both cities are part of the PiracicabaCapivariJundiai basin (PCJ-1 and PCJ-3). For 7 and 15-day periods, the animals were exposed to 10% concentrations and crude sludge for the PCJ-1sample and to 1, 10, and 50% concentrations and sludge for the PCJ-3 sample. The material exposed to the PCJ-1 sample showed an increase in the presence of cytoplasmic granules in both concentrations in all periods and a slight increase in the rate of epithelial renewal. The material of PCJ-3 sample presented the same alterations observed in PCJ-1 sample in higher frequence and over that high quantity of neutral polysaccharides in the hepatic cells layer. We can conclude that with the increase of sewage sludge concentrations tested, there is an increase in morphophysiologicals alterations frequencies found in the diplopods' midgut. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2012. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Hemocitical responses to environmental stress in invertebrates: a review

Although invertebrates are recognized by the great facility to accumulate pollutants present in their environment and many of them are used as sentinel species in biomonitoring studies, little is known about the impact of toxicants on the immune system of these animals. In this regard, hemocytes play a fundamental role: these cells circulate freely through the hemolymph of invertebrates and act on the recognition of foreign material to the organism, mediating and effecting the cellular defense, such as phagocytosis, nodulation, and encapsulation. Different morphological types can be recognized but still there is controversy among the researchers about the exact classification of the hemocytes due to the diversity of techniques for the preservation and observation of these cells. In the present study, a review on the main hemocyte responses to environmental stress in different invertebrate organisms is presented, emphasizing the contamination by heavy metals. It is discussed parameters such as: alteration in the number of cells involved in the defense reaction, phagocytic activity, lysosomal responses, and production of reactive oxygen species.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES