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

Acute and subchronic exposure of diplopods to substrate containing sewage mud: Tissular responses of the midgut

Several discussions regarding the agricultural use of sewage mud have occurred; however, its use has been questioned due to the risks of soil contamination mainly by metals. Diplopods are saprophagous invertebrates, agile in colonizing several layers of soil. Due to the habit of this group, several researchers have proposed their use in ecotoxicological analyses. This study aimed to expose these invertebrates to substrate containing sewage mud of a STS (Sewage Treatment Station) from São Paulo State, Brazil and analyzed its toxic potential by morphological analysis of the midgut of the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi, region of the digestive tube where digestion and nutrient absorption occur. The animals were exposed in mud concentrations at 1%, 10% and 50% mixed with soil from the collection site for periods of 7 (acute exposure), 15 (intermediary exposure) and 90 (subchronic exposure) days in each treatment. The animals from the control group did not present alterations at all the exposition times. As an acute response (7 days), it was observed in the animals exposed to mud at 1% and 10% an increase in the epithelial renovation and in the liberation of secretory vesicles of glycoprotein content. In the animals exposed to mud at 50%, the main alteration observed was the increase in the number of cytoplasmatic granules in the fat body cells; the epithelium seemed to be in reorganization process in all the observed individuals, suggesting an intense epithelial renovation. In the intermediary period of exposure (15 days), in the animals exposed to mud at 1% it was observed an increase in the number of haemocytes among the cells of the fat body, distributed both separately and grouped; the animals exposed to mud at 10% presented the same evidence of epithelial renovation observed in the animals exposed for 7 days at a concentration of 50% of mud; it was also observed an increase in the number of haemocytes, which reacted strongly to the PAS technique. Cytoplasmatic granules in the hepatic cells, fat body cells and haemocytes were also observed in great number, being that great part presented calcium in their constitution. In the animals exposed to mud at 50%, the alteration observed was the presence of numerous secretory vesicles of the apocrine type through all the epithelia of vacuolated aspect; hepatic cells with cytoplasmatic granules were also observed. As subchronic response (90 days), it was observed that all the fat body cells were completely taken by cytoplasmatic granules, into which it was, detected the presence of calcium; such granules were also observed in the apical region of the principal epithelial cells. These results suggest the existence of toxic agents in the analyzed mud sample, whose different concentrations trigger responses that occur in different manners, intensities and velocities that might prevent the entrance and action of toxic agents in the organism of the studied invertebrate. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq