بررسي بافت شناسي سلول هاي ترشح كننده زهر در خار رامك ماهي مخطط (Aetomylaeus maculates)

Histological characterization of the special venom secretory cells in the stinger of Aetomylaeus maculates

Rays are common elasmobranches in the northern waters of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, that may have one or more mineralized serrated stingers on the whip¬like tail. The stingers are covered by epidermal cells among which some can produce venom. The exact localization of the venom secretory cells in the stinger of different species is controversial, but it is known that the cells are preferentially located in the ventral surface and ventro-lateral grooves in marine stingrays. A morphological characterization of the stinger epidermal tissue of Aetomylaeus maculates was carried out in this study. EDTA was used for decalcification of stings and conventional histological process was subsequently employed. The results indicated that the venom secretory cells are located in the ventral surface and ventrolateral grooves. These cells are arranged in two or more layer beneath the epidermis. The cells are round to oval in shape with round-ovoid nucleous. These cells are alcian blue and PAS positive.