Morphology and immunolocalization of Aquaporins 1 and 5 in the mandibular salivary glands of the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

• Grant number: 22/16212-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Cesar Schimming
• Grantee: Bruno Cesar Schimming
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant(s): 25/00862-0 - XXIX International Symposium on Morphological Sciences, AR.EXT

Abstract

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a myrmecophagous species, feeding predominantly on ants and termites. Specialization to this diet is reflected in several morphological, physiological, behavioral and defense adaptations, such as an extremely elongated head, tongue and mandible. It is essential to know its anatomy, as this animal has been increasingly treated in veterinary centers specializing in wildlife, as they are often victims of roadkill. Thus, given the importance of anatomical knowledge for veterinary clinic and surgery and the lack of information about the mandibular salivary gland in these animals, the aim of this proposal is to describe the gross anatomy and morphology, by light microscopy, with histochemical reaction and the immunolocalization of aquaporins 1 (AQP1) and 5 (AQP5) in the mandibular salivary glands in four giant anteaters. Therefore, an animal will be used for macroscopic studies and fragments of the mandibular salivary glands of three giant anteaters will be collected for histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical routines. After histological fixation in paraformaldehyde for 24 hours, the samples will be intended for inclusion in the routine ParaplastTM (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA). Following, it will be obtain histological sections 5 µm thick, which are mounted on silanized slides, and the material will be destine to histological routine and immunohistochemical detection for AQPs 1 and -5. (AU)