Histological and Histochemical Studies on the Choroid Plexus in Sciurus Linnaeus

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the histological and histochemical characteristics of the choroid plexus in adult male and female Sciurus Linnaeus. The current study included 30 adult Sciurus Linnaeus of both genders. The animals were divided into two groups: the first was used for histological studies, while the second was used for histochemical investigation. The animals were euthanized by intravenous injection of sodium phenobarbital (80 mg/kg). The sections were stained using hematoxylin-eosin, (PAS), combined PAS-AB (pH-2.5), Masson’s trichrom, and Gomori trichrom stains. At magnification, the choroid plexuses of the lateral ventricle are characterized by parallel folds of different dimensions, while those of the third and fourth ventricles are composed of a great number of processes with a leaf-like appearance connected by a stem to the stromal tissue's more basal core. The stromal tissue expanded into the leaves, along with capillaries that broke up into capillary plexuses in the leaf body. The stromal tissue choroid plexus developed bigger, with a single layer of cuboidal epithelium that is nearly ciliated covering its highly vascular structure. A significant volume of connective tissue separates the epithelium from the blood vessels. The histochemical results showed that the choroid plexus and ependymal cells in the villi showed a positive reaction for PAS, Gomori trichrom, while the same parts gave a negative reaction AB. In the combined PAS-AB (PH-2.5) stains, the connective tissue revealed the presence of collagen fibers by using Masson’s Trichrom.