Morphology, morphometry, histochemistry and lectin histochemistry of the vagina of the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus)

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to describe the morphology of the vagina in Lagostomus maximus and to characterize its epithelial cells using morphometric and histochemical techniques (variations of PAS, Alcian blue and lectin histochemistry). Thirty-fi ve sexually mature adult females were captured in their natural environment during four periods of the year and their genital organs were dissected. The vaginal wall of the viscacha has three tunics: mucosa, muscularis and adventitia or serosa according to the region. The epithelium is stratifi ed in both cranial and caudal regions, but its characteristics vary depending on the physiological state. In anestrous, nonpregnant females have a stratifi ed epithelium of two to three cellular layers with columnar PAS-positive superfi cial mucous cells. During the follicular phase, the epithelium of the vagina is stratifi ed squamous and cornifi ed. Females at early, middle and term pregnancy have a columnar stratifi ed epithelium with mucous cells. Glycoproteins in the mucous cells were detected using PAS, PA ∗ S, KOH/PA ∗ /BH/PAS; and Alcian blue, pH 0.5, pH 1, pH 2.5 and 0.006 M). Lectin histochemistry showed that UEA-I and RCA-1 lectins reacted strongly or moderately with epithelial cells in all stages analyzed. These results indicate the presence of L-fucose and â -galactose. Binding with other lectins was variable.