Histomorphometrical and stereological study of the oesophagus in the adult male Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus)

The Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) is habitat in the Middle East countries and feed on pine acorns and other seeds. The present study was carried out to investigate the histological and volumetric features of the oesophagus in Persian squirrels. Five adult male Persian squirrels were included in the study. The cervical, thoracic and abdominal oesophagus of all subjects were processed routinely and sectioned in a serial manner. Then, the total volume of the oesophagus and its different layers were estimated using Cavalieri's principle. Histological assessment revealed a non‐keratinized stratified squamous epithelium lining the mucosa. No glands were seen in the lamina propria and submucosa. Lamina muscularis was present as a distinct layer of smooth muscle cells separating the lamina propria from the tunica submucosa. The tunica muscularis consisted of two distinct layers of striated muscle fibres: inner circular and outer longitudinal that was intermingled with few scattered smooth muscle fibres especially in the abdominal region. The thoracic region contained more amount of the lamina muscularis and tunica muscularis in comparison to the cervical or abdominal regions. The obtained results revealed that the histological structure of the Persian squirrel oesophagus has differences and similarities with other rodents and even with other species of squirrel. These findings would be useful to improve the knowledge in the areas of histological structure of the rodent digestive system.     

Microscopic anatomy of the oesophagus in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) a histochemical,stereological, and scanning electron microscope study

The present work was designed to investigate the microscopic structure of the oesophagus in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) using histochemical staining, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and stereological procedures. Four adult males were included in our study. Serial sections of the entire length of the oesophagus were stained with aldehyde fuchsin, alcian blue (pH 2.5), Periodic acid Schiff (PAS), and Masson's trichrome. Then, the total volume of the oesophagus, and the total volume of its different layers, were estimated using Cavalieri's principle. The oesophageal epithelium was a non-keratinized stratified squamous type. Muscularis mucosa was present as a thick layer between lamina propria and submucosa and its thickness was increased toward the stomach. Tunica submucosa was a loose connective tissue containing an oesophageal gland with PAS-positive and AB-positive reactions throughout the submucosa and become denser toward the stomach. The tunica muscularis consisted of two distinct striated muscle layers, and its thickness was decreased toward the stomach. On SEM images, the cervical and thoracic oesophagus showed shallow folding, while the abdominal part had deeper folds. The present findings indicate that the histological properties of the oesophagus in southern white-breasted hedgehogs have slight similarities with rodents and considering its epithelium, submucosal glands and tunica muscularis more resemble with dog oesophagus. The obtained results may be quite helpful to improve the current knowledge of the histophysiology of the hedgehog gastrointestinal tract as a member of eulipotyplan mammals and as a pet for biologists and veterinarians.     

Comparison of dietary phospholipids and neutral lipids: effects on gut, liver and pancreas histology in Atlantic cod (Gadus morha L.) larvae

The aim of the present study was to compare effects of dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) being incorporated in the phospholipid (PL) or in the neutral lipid (NL) fraction of the larval feed, on larval growth and histology of digestive organs in Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) larvae. Three isoproteic and isolipidic diets, labelled according to the percentage of n-3 docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid contained in NL1 or in PL1 and PL3 of the diets, were fed to cod larvae from 17 days post hatching (dph) to 45 dph.
In the liver, hepatocytes and their nuclei were smaller in NL1 larvae compared with the PL larvae; the mitochondrial membrane structures were less dense and the amount of lipids observed in the liver was significantly higher in NL1 larvae compared with the PL3 larvae. The liver and gut size was related to larval size, with no differences between the larval groups. The results demonstrated that the essential fatty acids were more beneficial for cod larvae when they were incorporated in the dietary polar PL rather than in the NL, and that the n-3 HUFA requirements in cod larvae is possibly higher than that in the PL1 diet.     

Intestinal epithelium of juvenile dourado Salminus brasiliensis (Cuvier, 1816) fed diet with lyophilized bovine colostrum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lyophilized bovine colostrum (LBC) used as partial source of dietary protein on the histological characteristics of the intestinal epithelium of juvenile dourado Salminus brasiliensis. Juveniles were fed diets containing 0%, 10% or 20% of LBC inclusion for either 30 or 60 days. For the histological study, the intestine was divided into three segments, S1, S2 and posterior intestine. In the S1 segment, interaction between treatment and period was observed in the number of goblet cells containing sialomucin, effect of treatment in the total number of goblet cells and effect of period in the number of goblet cells containing sulphomucins (P < 0.05). In the S2 segment, effect of period was observed in the number of goblet cells containing acid, neutral and total mucins, sialomucins and the partial volume of the absorptive mucosa (Vv) (P < 0.05). In the posterior intestine, effect of period was observed in the thickness of muscle layer and number of goblet cells containing sialomucins and sulphomucins (P < 0.05). Considering the aspects studied, the presence of 0%, 10% or 20% of LBC in the diet did not significantly influence the enteric histological characteristics of juvenile dourado during the period of the study.     

Morphometry of cervical spinal cord in cat using design-based stereology

The spinal cord harbours nerve fibres that facilitate reflex actions and that transmit impulses to and from the brain. The cervical spinal cord is an area of particular interest in medicine and veterinary due to frequent pathologic alterations in this region. This study describes the morphometric features of the cervical spinal cord in cat using design-unbiased stereological methods. The cervical spinal cords of four male cats were dissected and samples were taken according to systematic uniform random sampling. Each sample was embedded in agar and cut into 60-µm thick sections and stained with cresyl violet 0.1% for stereological estimations. The total cervical spinal cord volume obtained by the Cavalieri estimator was 2,321.21 ± 285.5 mm³. The relative volume of grey matter and white matter was 23.8 ± 1.3% and 76.1 ± 1.3%. The dorsal horn and ventral horn volume were 12.3 ± 1.2% and 11.4 ± 0.7% of the whole cervical spinal cord. The volume of central canal was estimated to 3.8 ± 1 mm³. The total number of neurons was accounted 3,405,366.2 ± 267,469.4 using the optical disector/fractionator method. The number of motoneurons and interneurons was estimated to be 1,120,433.2 ± 174,796.7 and 2,284,932.9 ± 127,261.5, respectively. The average volume of the motoneurons and interneurons was estimated to 1980 µm³ and 680 µm³, respectively, using the spatial rotator method. This knowledge of cat spinal cord findings may serve as a foundation as a translational model in spinal cord experimental research and provide basic findings for diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord disorders.     

A morphometric and stereological study on cervical spinal cord segment of goose

In this study, volume density of white matter and grey matter areas of cervical segment of spinal cord in adult geese weighing 3–4 kg was examined using stereological methods. 10 geese were used as material without sex discrimination. All animals underwent perfusion with 10% buffered formaldehyde. Following the perfusion, animals were kept in 10% formaldehyde for 1 week. Geese were then dissected. Cervical area of spinal cord was revealed removing cervical spine. Tissue samples were obtained from each segment of cervical area. 5 μm thick cross‐sections were taken from these tissue samples via microtome. Series of cross‐sections were obtained by sampling in the ratio of 1/250 including 12 cross‐sections from each cervical segment of every animal. Cross‐sections were stained by haematoxylin eosin. They were photographed under microscope. Volume density (volume fractions) of both whole tissue and white matter and grey matter parts in each cervical segment of spinal cord were calculated using Cavalieri’s Principle. In the study, total volume of cervical segment, volume of white matter and grey matter, and ratios of these volumes one another were assessed in goose.     

妊娠期牦牛肉阜间区子宫腺的形态计量学分析

运用形态计量学方法对31头牦牛肉阜间区子宫腺的相关组织学数据进行了测定,并进行统计分析。研究发现,除了妊娠151~180 d,牦牛肉阜间区子宫腺上皮高度随着妊娠时间的增长极显著降低(P0.01);妊娠期子宫腺管周长和面积非常明显增大(P0.01);不同妊娠阶段之间体积密度差异极显著(P0.01),先增加后下降,而表面密度无显著差异(P0.05);除了妊娠151~180 d,扭曲腺管和管状腺管的比例随着妊娠时间的增长分别非常显著地增大或减小(P0.01);分泌腺管的比例在妊娠期间有明显变化(P0.05),牦牛肉阜间区还存在嵌套腺管。结果显示,妊娠期牦牛肉阜间区子宫腺形态结构有明显的变化,子宫腺变的更大、更长,形状更加扭曲。     

A Morphological and Stereological Study on Cervical Segment of Spinal Cord of Quails

In this study, volume densities of white and grey matters of cervical segments of spinal cords of quail were investigated stereologically. In both sexes, mature, six quails were used as material of this study. All animals were fixed by perfusing in 10% buffered formalin. Tissue specimens were obtained from cervical spinal cords. These tissue specimens were cut every fiftieth section at 5 μm thickness by a microtome. And mean six or seven sections were examined from every block by this method at microscope. After that, these sections were stained by haematoxylin eosin and photographed. Densities of volumes of all tissues of cervical segments of whole spinal cords and white and grey matters were calculated with principle of Cavalieri. As a result, total volume of spinal cord, volumes of white and grey matters of cervical segment and volume rates of white and grey matters were calculated.     

Insulin-like growth factor-I, passive immunity transfer, and stereological characteristics of small intestine of newborn calves

This study evaluated the concentration of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I present in the mammary secretions, its relation with changes in serum IGF‐I and immunoglobulin (Ig)G, and intestinal mucosa alterations of 42 calves during the first week of life. Cows were randomly assigned to two groups, treated and control, with 21 animals in each. The treated group was injected with 500 mg recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) at day ?35 relative to predicted calving date. Newborn calves were randomly assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial scheme: dams group and slaughter date (at birth, 2 and 7 days of life). IGF‐I concentration was higher in the colostrum of treated cows (P < 0.05), but did not differ in the subsequent mammary secretions. Immunoglobulin G concentration in colostrum and subsequent mammary secretions did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). No differences were found in calf serum IGF‐I levels from birth to the seventh day or serum immunoglobulin G concentration after 24 h of life (P > 0.05). IGF‐I colostrum levels observed in this study did not affect the small intestine morphometry. The segment from the middle jejunum showed higher mucosa partial volume (Vv) at birth and 7 days old compared to other segments, and at just 2 days of age this segment reduced its Vv, not differing from other segments of the same date.