Microscopic anatomy of the skin of the woodchuck (Marmota monax): comparison of woodchuck hepatitis virus-infected and non-infected animals.

Thirty-three woodchucks were used in this study. Seventeen animals were healthy adults, not infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV); 10 were healthy adults infected with WHV; 4 were noninfected neonates; 2 were infected neonates. Within the 4 groups of woodchucks, no histologic differences were detected on the basis of sex or age. Neither were histologic findings different between infected and noninfected woodchucks of similar ages. The average thickness of skin (as measured from the skin surface to the inner limit of the dermis) from the general haired body area was 2394 microns. The skin was thickest on dorsal body areas, and gradually became thinner on ventral body and medial limb areas. The epidermis consisted of 4 layers: stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum corneum. A stratum lucidum was present only in the epidermis of the footpads. There was no clear distinction between the superficial dermis and the deep dermis, except for the subtle differences in arrangement and size of collagen fibers. Elastic fibers were seen throughout the dermis, being more prominent in the superficial portion. Both compound and simple hair follicle arrangements were seen, with compound being more common. The arrectores pilorum muscles were largest in the skin over the dorsal body areas. Sebaceous glands were present either within the outer root sheath of hair follicles or in the dense connective tissue surrounding hair follicles. No apocrine sweat glands were found. However, there were abundant eccrine sweat glands in the subcutaneous fat of the footpads.     

牛蛙不同体部皮肤的组织学研究

通过制作石蜡切片,并利用苏木精—伊红染色法进行染色,对牛蛙不同部位的皮肤进行组织学观察;利用图像处理软件Image J 4.21测量皮肤厚度,运用SPSS 17.0软件对不同部位的皮肤厚度进行单因素方差分析。镜下观察组织切片可见,牛蛙的皮肤分为表皮和真皮,表皮由外向内可分为3层：角质层、颗粒层和生发层,真皮由疏松层和致密层组成。疏松层主要由网状结缔组织构成,也包括一些色素、颗粒腺和黏液腺。色素主要分布于表皮下的结缔组织中,颗粒腺和黏液腺的间隙的结缔组织中也有少量色素。鼓膜皮肤厚度显著小于其他部位皮肤厚度（P〈0.05）,前肢、后肢、泄殖孔的皮肤厚度差异不显著（P〉0.05）。不同部位皮肤分布的色素细胞、颗粒腺、黏液腺数量也不同,内侧的黏液腺多于外部,而颗粒腺在表皮分布多,在深层分布少。     

Microscopic studies of the skin of the Turkish Angora goat. I. Skin layers

The study describes basic structural aspects of the integumental layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) of the Turkish Angora goat. The results have been obtained by light- and electronmicroscopical methods. Central topics are measurements of layer thickness as related to annual season and life period, as well as typical criteria of integumental layer construction as connected with the hair cycle. Remarkable is a trimerous organization of the dermis and cyclic changes in the thickness of the stratum adiposum of the hypodermis. The findings are discussed with regard to comparable observations from other domestic mammals.     

Histological and functional comparisons of four anatomical regions of porcine skin with human abdominal skin

Because of the shortage of human skin for research purposes, porcine skin has been used as a model of human skin. The aim of this study was to identify the region of German Landrace pig skin that could be used as the best possible substitute for human abdominal skin. Porcine samples were collected from the ear, flank, back and caudal abdomen; human abdominal skin samples were excised during plastic surgery. Histological and ultrastructural assessments were carried out on the epidermis and dermis, with emphasis on the dermo‐epidermal interface length, dermo‐epidermal thickness ratio as well as densities of; hair follicles, arrector pili muscles, blood vessels and sweat glands. In the pig, the barrier function of the four anatomical regions was assessed. Results showed that both histologically and ultrastructurally, all four regions of porcine skin were similar to human skin. These include the shapes of keratinocytes, structure of cell contacts and presence of Weibel Palade bodies in endothelial cells. Other parameters such as the thickness of epidermis, the thickness of stratum basale, spinosum and granulosum and the number of cell layers in the stratum corneum were similar in human abdominal and in all four regions of porcine skin. However, there were also significant differences especially in the thickness of the stratum corneum, the dermo‐epidermal interface length and the blood vessel density.     

Development of the Retina in the Porcine Fetus A Light Microscopic Study

Morphogenesis of the porcine retina was studied using light microscopy from 4 weeks of gestation until birth (18 to 310 mm crown-rump length), and compared with the adult stage (6 months). Tissue samples were examined from the posterior and peripheral parts of the retina. At 18 mm the retina consists of an inner marginal layer and an outer layer of neuroblastic cells. At 18-40 mm the latter layer is divided into an inner and an outer neuroblastic layer by the transient layer of Chievitz. Subsequently, the development of the different retinal layers begins at the inner retinal border and moves progressively outwards; it also spreads from the posterior to the peripheral part of the neural retina. Many cells of the inner neuroblastic layer are prospective ganglionic cells which migrate inwards, thus forming the ganglion cell layer and the inner plexiform layer at 90 mm. At 120 mm, primitive horizontal cells appear within the outer neuroblastic layer. Separation of this layer into the inner nuclear, outer plexiform and outer nuclear layers is first evident at 180 mm. At this stage all retinal layers are present, except the layer of the photoreceptor cells which is not widespread until at 220 mm. The inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor cells lengthen considerably during the last month of gestation. During the late fetal stage the nerve fiber layer, the inner and outer plexiform layers and the layer of rods and cones all continue to increase in thickness. Concurrently, the ganglion cell layer and the inner and outer nuclear layers have reached their maximal thickness and become thinner. After the total thickness of the neural retina amounts to approximately 180 microns at two to three weeks before birth, it then thins to approximately 160 microns in the adult stage.     

黑龙江林蛙繁殖期两性皮肤组织结构的差异比较

报道了繁殖期黑龙江林蛙皮肤及其腺体的显微结构特点及两性差别。研究发现：黑龙江林蛙雌雄个体在皮肤特定部位的表皮厚度和皮肤总厚度上存在显著差异;雌蛙各部位真皮致密层都比雄蛙相应部位的致密层厚,且有显著差别。雌雄性蛙色斑不仅存在两性差异,而且构成色斑的色素细胞数量雄蛙明显多于雌蛙;皮肤腺在组成类型和分布上雌雄也有差别,最明显的是雄蛙躯干的背、腹部存在有大量的特殊黏液腺,讨论了这种特殊的黏液腺在生殖行为中可能产生一些化学交流信号和辅助抱对作用。     

Stratum adiposum, a special structure of the African Catfish skin (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822)

The skin histology of Clarias gariepinus, a scaleless teleost from south central Africa, is described. The African catfish epidermis is composed of epithelial cells representing 62.3% of volumetric density (Vv), club cells (Vv = 25.7%), mucous cells (Vv = 10.5%) and melanocytes (Vv = 1.4%). Its thickness amounts to approximately 240 microm. The dermis is distinguished by two well differentiated layers, the stratum adiposum, containing prominent amounts of adipose tissue, which forms large, oblong compartments circumscribed by dense connective tissue, and the stratum compactum, which is rich in compacted collagen fibres. Compared with other catfish species the dermis thickness is considerably thicker ranging from 1.3 to 2.3 mm. The function of this type of skin is discussed.     

Dermal-epidermal relationships in the skin of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Using a variety of methods the outer surface of the dolphin dermis presents as a rather regularly arranged series of mainly longitudinal and approximately parallel ridges which are surmounted by laterally flattened, regularly distributed dermal papillae. At variable intervals groups of dermal ridges are supported by shallow elevations referred to here as basal dermal elevations. These tend to contain vessels and/or nerves for distribution to two or more dermal ridges. The opposing epidermal surface reveals an irregularly edged series of nearly parallel epidermal ridges alternating with the grooves which in the living state contain the dermal ridges. In the depths of these grooves are the crypts which in the intact skin contain the dermal papillae. Nothing is observable which could correspond to the epidermal pegs referred to in the literature. Small irregular epidermal projections (knobs) appear along the free edge of the epidermal ridge. Topographical variations in density and height of dermal ridges, height of basal dermal elevation plus dermal ridge and papillae as well as total epidermal thickness are illustrated by means of skin maps. Inconsistencies in the literature on Cetacean skin are discussed.     

Tissue Expansion in Pig Skin – A Histochemical Approach

In the present study, a porcine model for controlled skin expansion was investigated to improve our understanding of epidermal and vascular responses following stretching. The model is of outstanding importance not only for the clinical use of tissue expansion but provides interesting data for skin physiology and oncology, too. Thirteen out of 15 animals, who underwent silicone tissue expander implantation showed good clinical results. In all of them, skin biopsies were taken at the end of a controlled tissue expansion procedure (final expander volumes 350 or 500 ccm): one tissue specimen was obtained from the centre of the expanded skin area and a second from the neighbouring but nonexpanded skin. The tissue specimens were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and processed to 4 microns thick acetone-fixed frozen sections. Lectin histochemistry and immunohistology were performed using the following techniques: direct and indirect immunofluorescence technique (DIFT, IIFT), immunoperoxidase technique (POX) with either 3,3'-diamino-benzidine (DAB) or 3-amino-9-ethyl-carbazole (AEC). The histochemical findings were supplemented by measurements of the number of vital epidermal cell layers, the epidermal thickness (microns), and the papillary vascular count per visual field. There was a significant diminuation of the vascular count (mean +/- S.D. = 55.0% +/- 12.5%; U-test: p less than 5%). By immunohistochemistry, a loss of the basal cell reactivity for the following antibodies was noted: ACAM (against calmodulin), K 8.12 (against keratins 13 +/- 16) and A51-B/H4 (against keratins 8, 14, 18). There was a remarkable increase of filaggrin expression in the uppermost spinal cell layers in expanded skin, which was most pronounced in those specimens with the shortest interval to the last fluid injection into the expander. We gained no evidence for alterations of the expression of suprabasal epidermal keratins, lectin binding sites (UEA I, PNA, ConA, WGA), and vascular lectin- and immunoreactivity due to tissue expansion. The subdermal capsule, which had formed around the silicone expander, was strongly vimentin-reactive. In conclusion, controlled tissue expansion is capable to change the basal cell phenotype--a feature which is shared with a number of conditions with increased proliferative activity and with the epidermis covering different skin tumours. The regular expression of suprabasal keratins and epidermal lectin binding sites provides evidence for a normal epidermal cell differentiation. Furthermore, the porcine skin is a reliable model for studying physiology and pathophysiology of human skin.     

东北林蛙皮肤及其腺体组织形态学观察

本文观察了东北林蛙皮肤及其腺体组织形态学结构,结果表明：东北林蛙体表各部位皮肤薄厚不一,头部背侧皮肤最厚（224.4±5.46μm）,后肢腹侧皮肤最薄（135.7±5.06μm）,但基本结构相同,由表皮和真皮组成。表皮薄,为复层扁平上皮;真皮疏松层有大量腺体分布,主要是粘液腺和颗粒腺。粘液腺广泛分布于全身皮肤,颗粒腺多见于背部皮肤,以躯干背侧褶处体积最大。色素细胞分布于真皮浅层,以背侧皮肤多见。     

Lesions of so-called flank biting and necrotic ear syndrome in pigs

Skin lesions were established on the flanks of pigs aged 10 to 12 weeks, in the areas of the ribs, the mid-upper leg, the shoulder and the tuber ischii. Skin lesions on the ear tips, known as porcine necrotic ear syndrome, were detected in weaners throughout the raising period. By the histological examination of 50 samples of skin lesions from the flank, two stages of epidermal and dermal changes were established; the milder stage had epidermal changes with marked acanthosis, rete ridges formed deep in the dermis and mild infiltrates of mononuclear cells in the layers around the capillaries in the dermis; the more severe stage had ulcers, under which there were infiltrates of polymorphonuclear cells. The same histological changes were observed in 23 samples of skin lesions taken from the tips of ears with necrotic ear syndrome. On healthy skin from the flank and ear tip, micrococci were the dominant organism, whereas on skin lesions from both the affected areas staphylococci were dominant. Since the histological lesions on the flanks were identical to those in necrotic ear syndrome, which has been associated with Staphylococcus hyicus infection, the pathogenesis of the lesions on the flanks is probably the same.     

High-frequency ultrasonography of the skin of clinically normal dogs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the applicability of high-frequency diagnostic ultrasonography for evaluation and accurate measurement of the skin thickness of clinically normal dogs. ANIMALS: 26 healthy dogs (12 sexually intact males, 13 sexually intact females, and 1 spayed female) of various breeds and ages. PROCEDURE: Ultrasonographic examination of the skin and histomorphometric analysis of skin biopsy specimens obtained from the same site were performed. A 13-MHz linear-array transducer was used to obtain a series of ultrasonographic images of the skin in the flank region; images were analyzed and measured by use of imaging software. Cutaneous biopsy specimens were placed in fixative and then stained with H&E and Masson trichrome stains. Histomorphometric analysis was performed by use of an image analyzer. Thickness of the epidermis and dermis of each specimen was evaluated by use of a semiautomatic procedure of quantification. Data obtained from ultrasonographic and histologic measurements were compared by use of the Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: The ultrasonographic pattern of canine skin was consistently characterized by 3 distinct, defined echogenic layers corresponding to the epidermal entry echo, epidermis and dermis, and subcutaneous tissues. A positive correlation was found between ultrasonographic and histologic measurements of skin thickness. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Comparison between ultrasonographic and histologic appearance of the skin revealed that layering of canine skin (ie, epidermis and dermis) and the subcutaneous tissues may be recognized and measured by use of high-frequency ultrasonography. Thus, diagnostic ultrasonography may be a useful tool for the noninvasive evaluation of cutaneous disorders in dogs.     

The porcine ear skin as a model system for the human integument: influence of storage conditions on basic features of epidermis structure and function--a histological and histochemical study

Based on careful tissue processing, detailed structural analysis, and histochemical as well as cytophotometrical evaluation of the epidermis, the study presents data with respect to changes of tissue integrity during two storing modes (room temperature and 4 degrees C) and various storage times of the porcine auricle. Structural degeneration was first noted in the barrier region of the epidermis from where such changes spread, independent of storage conditions, from small horizontal necrotic islands and continuously with increasing storage time. The histochemical results corroborated these observations, emphasizing, however, that the lower epidermal layers seemed intact for a longer time period than the upper layers. Cytophotometrical evaluation of histochemical stainings showed, with regard to the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase, that oxidative metabolism was negatively affected in the early stages of storage, whereas epidermal lipids (neutral fats, glycolipids) remained relatively stable, even during storage at room temperature. In conclusion, it was obvious that the barrier region is the most sensitive element of the porcine ear epidermis. Taking into consideration that this part of the epidermis is most important for permeation studies, it seems reasonable to avoid any storage of porcine auricles at room temperature, and to use only auricles that have been stored at 4 degrees C for not more than 4 to 6 hours, immediately after delivery from the slaughter-house. In this way better tissue preservation can be achieved, whereby the use of shinkage-free water-soluble plastic embedding would generally improve the histological control of structural integrity, and the application of an easy to handle enzyme histochemical procedure (e.g. succinate dehydrogenase demonstration) to unfixed fresh-frozen sections would help to control basic aspects of tissue functions. The results are discussed in relation to the use of porcine integument as a model in human dermatological research.     

白茅解剖结构和屏障结构特征研究

利用光学显微镜和荧光显微镜对白茅进行了解剖学和组织化学研究,结果表明:1) 白茅不定根解剖结构为表皮、外皮层、厚壁机械组织层、皮层、内皮层和中柱;根茎结构为角质层、表皮、周缘厚壁机械组织层、皮层、厚壁机械组织层和髓。2)不定根具内侧内皮层及其邻近皮层细胞、外侧表皮和皮下层组成的屏障结构;根茎具内侧厚壁机械组织层、外侧角质层和周缘厚壁机械组织层组成的屏障结构,屏障结构胞壁具凯氏带、木栓质和木质素沉积的组织化学特点。3) 白茅通气组织包括根中通气组织,茎皮层通气组织和维管束中的气腔。4)白茅的屏障结构和解剖结构是其适应湿地环境的重要特征,但是根茎周缘厚壁机械组织层没有栓质化,髓部没有髓腔,推测其在湿地环境中分布有一定的局限性。     

Supplementation of graded levels of organic zinc in the diets of female broilers: effects on performance and carcase quality

Zinc is an essential trace element. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of various levels of organic zinc (OZ) supplementation on growth performance and carcase quality of female broiler chickens. A total of 3200 1-d-old female broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 16 floor pens with 200 birds per pen. A maize-wheat-soyabean meal basal diet (Control) was formulated and 20 mg/kg OZ (20 OZ), 40 mg/kg OZ (40 OZ), and 80 mg/kg OZ (80 OZ) were added to the basal diet to form 4 dietary treatments with 4 replicates per treatment. The OZ source was zinc proteinate which contained 15% zinc. Results showed no significant difference between the treatments in growth performance. A significant increase in thigh skin epidermis and dermis thickness was shown in the OZ supplementation groups; however, no effect was found on the thickness of back skin epidermis and dermis. Collagen contents in breast and thigh meats were not influenced by OZ supplementation but a significant increase in collagen content was found in the back and thigh skin. This increase in collagen content was significantly greater in the back and thigh skin of OZ 80 than with OZ 20. Shear force value and zinc concentration in skins and meat were not significantly influenced by supplementation with OZ. It is concluded that dietary OZ does not improve growth performance of broilers; however, it could increase skin thickness by increasing collagen content in skin, thereby improving carcase quality.     

Canine corneal thickness measured by ultrasonic pachymetry.

Ultrasonic pachymetry was used to measure central, superior peripheral, and temporal peripheral corneal thicknesses of 75 dogs (150 eyes) with normal corneas, anterior chambers, and intraocular pressure. Mean corneal thickness averaged over the 2 eyes, 3 locations, and 75 dogs was 562 +/- 6.2 microns. The peripheral cornea was thicker on average than the central cornea by 49.43 +/- 8.45 microns and this difference increased with age at 6.97 +/- 1.3 microns/month of age. Mean corneal thickness changed with age (14.23 +/- 2.26 microns/month), and weight (1.83 +/- 0.38 microns/kg). Females had significantly thinner corneas (22.43 +/- 11.03 microns than males) after adjusting for age and weight.