Morphological and Histochemical Study of Cephalic Glands of<i>Bothrops jararaca</i>(Ophidia, Viperidae)

Abstract

Morphological and histochemical studies of the cell types in the cephalic glands of Bothrops jararaca have been performed. It is concluded: 1) mucous cells are found in the salivary labial, accessory glands; mucous-serous cells are found in the salivary labial, accessory and Harderian glands; serous-mucous cells are found only in the venom gland; 2) neutral mucosubstances and protein were found in the salivary labial, venom, accessory and Harderian glands; 3) hyaluronic acid was detected in the Harderian gland; 4) of the to sulfated acid mucosubstances, only chondroitin sulfate B was detected in the salivary labial and accessory glands; 5) sialic acid was detected in the salivary labial, accessory and Harderian glands.