Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, Brazil.
Anat Histol Embryol. 2021 Mar;50(2):234-239. doi: 10.1111/ahe.12620. Epub 2020 Sep 30.
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a mammal of the Xenarthra Superorder, which inhabits Central, South and North America. Few morphological descriptions are observed in this species, including the respiratory tract; therefore, the objective of this study was to describe morphologically the lower respiratory tract of the nine-banded armadillo. Five animals were dissected, and the macroscopic and microscopic aspects were analysed. In the anatomical analysis, the perfusion technique was performed with vinyl acetate and the fragments of tissue from respiratory organs (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and pulmonary lobes) were stained with haematoxylin-eosin for visualization under optical microscopy. Containing about 30 cartilage rings, the trachea is lined internally with ciliated pseudostratified epithelial tissue. The lungs are subdivided into lobes by deep interlobar fissures, with two lobes in the right lung and three lobes in the left lung. Microscopically, the primary, secondary and tertiary bronchi have non-ciliated pseudostratified epithelium with goblet cells. It was found that macro- and microscopically the respiratory tract of this species is similar to existing xenarthras and other excavator animals. These data provide subsidies for the clinic and preservation of this species.
九带犰狳（Dasypus novemcinctus）是异关节超目动物，栖息在中美洲、南美洲和北美洲。这种物种的呼吸道等很少有形态描述，因此，本研究的目的是对九带犰狳的下呼吸道进行形态学描述。对 5 只动物进行了解剖，分析了其宏观和微观方面。在解剖分析中，采用醋酸乙烯进行灌注技术，并用苏木精-伊红对呼吸器官（气管、支气管、细支气管和肺叶）的组织碎片进行染色，以便在光学显微镜下观察。气管包含约 30 个软骨环，内部衬有纤毛假复层上皮组织。肺通过深的叶间裂分为叶，右肺有两个叶，左肺有三个叶。微观上，初级、次级和三级支气管具有无纤毛假复层上皮和杯状细胞。研究发现，该物种的呼吸道在宏观和微观上与现有的异关节动物和其他挖掘动物相似。这些数据为该物种的临床和保护提供了依据。
