Estudio estructural y morfométrico de las glándulas salivales de gorrión (Passer Domesticus) durante invierno y verano

Abstract

Key Words: House sparrow. Salivary glands. Histophysiology. Morphometry.

An structural, cytochemical and morphometric study of the salivary glands of the House sparrow was made, with the purpose of detecting their probable histophysiological adaptatio!'s in relation to diet and nutritional needs according to seasons of the year. 40 sparrows from "Villa Los Aromas" (Alta Gracia) and gathered in winter and summer were used. Samples of the oral cavity were studied with H/E, PAS, Alcian Blue and Toluidine Blue. The quantitative analysis of the development and size of.the glands was perforrned according to the method of !Gelian and Cohn. No structural or cytochemical modifications were observed in the different glands. The proportion eltisting among the different glands (angularis oris, maltillary and internal and external mandibular) shows statistically significative differences, and these differences rernain constan! through the seasons of the year studied. It is concluded that these glands do not exhibit variations in winter and surnmer, perlad in which vegetation and fauna are modified and the disponibility of alimentary sources varies. The constan glandular pattern during these seasons would be a consequence of the species gene tic determination, associated to a diet that is probably similar in winterand sumrner wbere vegetable and animal components would combine in relation to seasonal rnetabolic requirements.