A non-hydrocephalic goat experimental model to evaluate a ventriculosinus shunt

Histologic Comparison of the Dura Mater among Species

The biocompatibility, biodegradation, feasibility, and efficacy of medical devices like dural sealants and substitutes are often evaluated in various animal models. However, none of these studies explain the rationale for choosing a particular species, and a systematic interspecies comparison of the dura is not available. We hypothesized that histologic characteristics of the dura would differ among species. We systematically investigated basic characteristics of the dura, including thickness, composition, and fibroblast orientation of the dura mater, in 34 samples representing 10 animal species and compared these features with human dura by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and light microscopy. Dura showed many similarities between species in terms of composition. In all species, dura consisted of at least one fibrovascular layer, which contained collagen, fibroblasts, and blood vessels, and a dural border cell layer beneath the fibrovascular layer. Differences between species included the number of fibrovascular layers, fibroblast orientation, and dural thickness. Human dura was the thickest (564 μm) followed by equine (313 μm), bovine (311 μm), and porcine (304 μm) dura. Given the results of this study and factors such as gross anatomy, feasibility, housing, and ethical considerations, we recommend the use of a porcine model for dural research, especially for in vivo studies.

Topography of coronary arteries and their ramifications in the goat

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology of the coronary arteries of the goat’s heart. The study was carried out on 36 hearts of adult females dairy goats, belonging to two breeds, aged 7–12 years, with an average body weight of 37 kg. A distinct view of coronary arteries and their branches was obtained by filling them with dyed synthetic latex (LBS 3060) or Batson’s No. 17. In all studied goats the common trunk of the left coronary artery was divided into the interventricular paraconal branch and the circumflex branch. The branch of the interventricular septum originated in the interventricular paraconal branch. In 25 individuals (69%) the circumflex branch ended with small ramifications on the atrial surface of the heart. In 11 individuals (31%), the vessel extended in the subsinuosal interventricular groove into the subsinuosal interventricular branch. The right coronary artery was less developed than the left coronary artery. In 35 individuals (97%) the right coronary artery ended with small ramifications on the atrial surface of the heart. In one goat (3%) the vessel reached the subsinuosal interventricular groove and extended into the subsinuosal interventricular branch.