THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF LEIMADOPHIS VIRIDIS (GÜNTHER, 1862) (OPHIDEA COLUBRIDAE): A MORPHOLOGICAL, MORPHOMETRIC AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Abstract

SUMMARY The authors present morphological, morphometric and histochemical study of the salivary glands of the Colubridae Leimadophis viridis (Gunther, 1862) (Ophidea). Based on the results, the authors concluded: (i) the acini of supralabial, infralabial and premaxillary glands are formed by mucous and mucoserous cells; Duvernoy's gland by seromucous cells; (ii) mucous cells show neutral and sulphated mucosubstances and sialic acid. Mucoserous cells show a neutral mucosubstance, sialic acid and protein radicals. Seromucous cells of Duvernoy's gland show a neutral mucosub- stance and protein radicals. The acinar area, height of tubule and duct cells, and nuclear volume of acinar, tubule and duct cells were evaluated morphometrically.