Structure and ultrastructure of fresh and preserved biological membranes of Santa Inês sheep (Ovis aries, L., 1758)

Abstract

The use of biological implants, of animal or synthetic origin, is recommended for the reconstruction of tissue defects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the morphological structure and ultrastructure of the parietal peritoneum, parietal pericardium, tunica vaginalis and fascia lata of 15 Santa Inês sheep, which were adult males from Estância Santa Barbara, in the city of Poloni – SP. The membranes were collected immediately after the animals were slaughtered, individually identified and separated into two parts. The first part was stored in saline solution, and called the fresh sample. The other portion was stored in 98% glycerol for 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. All samples were subjected to standard histological techniques. Fresh samples and those preserved in glycerin for 30 days were also preparated and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. We concluded that the fresh and preserved membranes, parietal peritoneum, parietal pericardium, tunica vaginalis and fascia lata, of the adult male Santa Inês sheep had a single type of tissue, which was unmodeled, dense connective tissue. The 98% glycerin used as a preservation medium was effective in maintaining the structural integrity of the tissue membranes.

Keywords

• Biological membranes
• Glycerin
• Peritoneum
• Sheep