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Alsafy MAM, El-Gendy SAA, Atkinson B, Sturrock CJ, Kamal BM, Alibhai A, Abd-Elhafeez HH, Soliman S, Rashwan AM, Roshdy K, Rutland CS. Novel Insights Into the Architecture of Macro and Microstructures in Cattle Ossa Cordis. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2024:ozae046. [PMID: 38838186 DOI: 10.1093/mam/ozae046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Ossa cordis, bones located within the heart trigones, are often classified as heterotopic or ectopic bones. Despite their high prevalence in cattle and some other bovids, little is known about their structure or development. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microtomography, gross dissections, and measurements showed the anatomical locations, prevalence, shapes, and measurements of the cardiac bones in both Egyptian Baladi cattle and Holstein-Friesians. All cattle (n = 12) had an Ossa cordis dextrum (average = 50.70 × 20.91 × 5.40 mm). Additionally, 80% Egyptian Baladi and 57% Holstein-Friesian had a smaller Ossa cordis sinistrum (average = 24.94 × 12.75 × 4.12 mm). Egyptian Baladi Ossa cordis were smaller than observed in Holstein-Friesians. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed the elemental constitution (carbon, oxygen, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium) of Ossa cordis and Cartilago cordis. These imaging techniques, plus four histological stains (hematoxylin and eosin, Crossman's trichrome, Alcian blue with Van Gieson, and Sirius Red) and microscopy, demonstrated osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteoclasts, astrocytes, blood vessels, bone marrow, lamellar and woven bone, cortical bone, trabeculations with pores and canaliculi, and fibrous components including collagen in the Ossa cordis dextrum and sinistrum. Hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage (chondrocytes and cartilage matrix) were found within and surrounding the Ossa cordis. These findings were additionally compared against other cattle breeds and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A M Alsafy
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Abis 10th, Alexandria, PO 21944, Egypt
| | - Samir A A El-Gendy
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Abis 10th, Alexandria, PO 21944, Egypt
| | - Brian Atkinson
- Hounsfield Facility, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Craig J Sturrock
- Hounsfield Facility, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Basma M Kamal
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 6010230, Egypt
| | - Aziza Alibhai
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Nottingham, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Hanan H Abd-Elhafeez
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Soha Soliman
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Rashwan
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Al Gomhouria St, Scientic Campus, Damanhour 22511, Egypt
| | - Karam Roshdy
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Abis 10th, Alexandria, PO 21944, Egypt
| | - Catrin S Rutland
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Nottingham, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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Alsafy MAM, El-Gendy SAA, Kamal BM, Rutland CS, Abd-Elhafeez HH, Soliman S, ELKhamary AN, Nomir AG. Heart ventricles of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius): new insights from sectional anatomy, 3D computed tomography, and morphometry. BMC ZOOL 2023; 8:12. [PMID: 37596650 PMCID: PMC10436409 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-023-00173-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dromedary camel heart morphology is a crucial research topic with clinical applications. The study aims to understand the dromedary camel anatomy, morphology, and architecture of the ventricular mass. RESULTS Sagittal and transverse gross sections were compared to sagittal, transverse, and 3D render volume reconstruction computed tomography (CT) scans. The subepicardial fat, which covered the heart base, the coronary groove (sulcus coronarius), the left longitudinal interventricular groove (sulcus interventricularis paraconalis), and the right longitudinal interventricular groove (sulcus interventricularis subsinuosus), had a relatively low density with a homogeneous appearance in the 3D render volume CT. The pericardium in the color cardiac window was identified better than the black and white window (ghost). Transverse and sagittal CT scans demonstrated the internal structures of the heart, including the right atrioventricular orifice (ostium atrioventriculare dextrum), right atrioventricular orifice (ostium atrioventriculare sinistrum), and aortic orifice (ostium aortae), chordae tendineae, the cusps of the valves (cuspis valvae), and the papillary muscles (musculi papillares). The papillary muscle (musculi papillares) was presented with a more moderate density than the rest of the heart, and the cusps of the valves (cuspis valvae) had a lower density. The ventricular wall (margo ventricularis) exhibited different densities: the outer part was hyperdense, while the inner part was hypodense. The thicknesses of the ventricular mural wall and the interventricular septum (septum atrioventriculare) were highest at the midpoint of the ventricular mass, and the lowest value was present toward the apical part. The coronary groove (sulcus coronarius) circumference measured 51.14 ± 0.72 cm, and the fat in the coronary groove (sulcus coronarius) (56 ± 6.55 cm2) represented 28.7% of the total cross-sectional area. CONCLUSION The current study provided more information about ventricular mass measurements by gross and CT analysis on the heart, which provides a valuable guide for future cardiac CT investigations in camels in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A M Alsafy
- Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Samir A A El-Gendy
- Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Basma M Kamal
- Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Catrin S Rutland
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hanan H Abd-Elhafeez
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Soha Soliman
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Ahmed N ELKhamary
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Ahmed G Nomir
- Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
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El-Gendy SAA, Alsafy MAM, Rutland CS, Ez Elarab SM, Abd-Elhafeez HH, Kamal BM. Ossa cordis and os aorta in the one-humped camel: Computed tomography, light microscopy and morphometric analysis. Microsc Res Tech 2023; 86:53-62. [PMID: 36354738 PMCID: PMC10100463 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The present study describes the morphological characteristics of the camel heart Ossa cordis, and os aorta using computed tomography soft tissue window (CT) alongside 3D render volume reconstructions and light microscopy. The current study techniques demonstrated the Ossa cordis and os aorta in the cardiac window with more precision than the black and white (ghost), and angiography images. Transverse and sagittal CT images additionally demonstrated the presence of Ossa cordis and os aorta. This study is the first to record two small Ossa cordis sinistrum and one os aorta in the camel heart, in addition to the more commonly observed singular, large, os cordis dextrum. The os cordis dextrum was always located in the upper part of the interventricular septum, near to its junction with the atrium, forming an elongated rectangular shape when observed transversally. The wider cranial part was composed from bone, whereas the caudal aspect was narrow and contained both bone and cartilage. Light microscopy identified that the os cordis dextrum consisted of trabecular bone, marrow spaces, and hyaline cartilage. Two Ossa cordis sinistrum were detected on the left side of the heart, one in the right fibrous ring and another in the interventricular septum, microscopy showed that both contained only trabecular bone with osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. At the level of ascending aorta, there was also trabecular bone containing osteocytes, an os aorta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir A A El-Gendy
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A M Alsafy
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Catrin S Rutland
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Samar M Ez Elarab
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Hanan H Abd-Elhafeez
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Asyut, Egypt
| | - Basma M Kamal
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
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Yılmaz Y, Aslan Kanmaz Y, Baygeldi SB, Güzel BC, Karan M, Güzel F, Yılmaz S. Physical and chemical characterization of the femur during and after the body development period in male and female guinea pigs. Anim Sci J 2023; 94:e13848. [PMID: 37392144 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, it was aimed to reveal the physical and chemical characterization of the bone structures during body development periods (prepubertal period, period between adolescence and adulthood) and after (young adult period and old adult period) in male and female guinea pigs. In this study, 40 guinea pigs (20 male, 20 female) were used. Morphometric measurements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for mineral levels, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis for surface area, and porosity analysis were applied to the bones. The male guinea pigs had greater values than females in the other three categories, with the exception of the second group, when the females have higher values in morphometric measurements. Ca levels rose up to the third group, as did P levels in the males, peaking in the third group and declining in the fourth. As with phosphorus, there was a progressive rise in females from the first to the fourth group. Fe, Zn, and Sr elements had the greatest values in both genders in the first group. In all four groups, the females had greater Zn levels than males. The highest Ca/P ratio was found in the third male group and the fourth female group. This study revealed that adolescence, adulthood, and gender are effective in the physical and chemical characterization of bone structure in guinea pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yücehan Yılmaz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of İnönü, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Yeşim Aslan Kanmaz
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazığ, Turkey
| | - Saime Betül Baygeldi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazığ, Turkey
| | - Barış Can Güzel
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Siirt, Siirt, Turkey
| | - Meryem Karan
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazığ, Turkey
| | - Fuat Güzel
- Department of Chemical, Faculty of, University of Dicle, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Sadık Yılmaz
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazığ, Turkey
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Yitbarek D, Dagnaw GG. Application of Advanced Imaging Modalities in Veterinary Medicine: A Review. Vet Med (Auckl) 2022; 13:117-130. [PMID: 35669942 PMCID: PMC9166686 DOI: 10.2147/vmrr.s367040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Veterinary anatomy has traditionally relied on detailed dissections to produce anatomical illustrations, but modern imaging modalities, now represent an enormous resource that allows for fast non-invasive visualizations in living animals for clinical and research purposes. In this review, advanced anatomical imaging modalities and their applications, safety issues, challenges, and future prospects of the techniques commonly employed for animal imaging would be highlighted. The quality of diagnostic imaging equipment in veterinary practice has greatly improved. Recent advances made in veterinary advanced imaging specifically about cross-sectional modalities (CT and MRI), nuclear medicine (PET, SPECT), and dual imaging modalities (PET/CT, PET/MR, and SPECT/CT) have become widely available, leading to greater demands and expectations from veterinary clients. These modalities allow for the creation of three-dimensional representations that can be of considerable value in the dissemination of clinical diagnosis and anatomical studies. Despite, the modern imaging modalities well established in developed countries across the globe, it is yet to remain in its infancy stage in veterinary practice in developing countries due to heavy initial investment and maintenance costs, lack of expert interpretation, a requirement of specialized technical staff and need of adjustable machines to accommodate the different range of animal sizes. Therefore, veterinarians should take advantage of these imaging techniques in designing future experiments by considering the availability of these varied imaging modalities and the creation of three-dimensional graphical representations of internal structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gashaw Getaneh Dagnaw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: Gashaw Getaneh Dagnaw, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia, Email
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Proks P, Johansen TM, Nývltová I, Komenda D, Černochová H, Vignoli M. Vertebral Formulae and Congenital Vertebral Anomalies in Guinea Pigs: A Retrospective Radiographic Study. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030589. [PMID: 33668174 PMCID: PMC7995982 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Guinea pigs are popular pets, but there is still a lack of information about their morphology. Variable morphology of the vertebral column can lead to incorrect localization of spinal diseases or the site of surgical intervention. This study aimed to determine the numerical variants of vertebral column and prevalence, localization, and type of congenital anomalies of the vertebral column. Vertebral column radiographs were reviewed in 240 guinea pigs, and nine numerical variants of the vertebral column were noticed. The most common vertebral formula, seven cervical, 13 thoracic, six lumbar, four sacral, and five to seven caudal vertebrae, was found in 75% of guinea pigs. Congenital anomalies were also found as incidental findings in 12.5% of guinea pigs, mostly in the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral regions. The most common congenital anomalies were a variable morphology of the last pair of ribs in the thoracolumbar region and transitional vertebra with a mixed morphological characteristic of lumbar and sacral vertebrae in the lumbosacral region. The cervical region was the least common region for congenital anomalies of the vertebral column. Our results contribute to the knowledge of clinical morphology in guinea pigs applicable in both, research and clinical practice. Abstract The objectives of this retrospective study of 240 guinea pigs (148 females and 92 males) were to determine the prevalence of different vertebral formulae and the type and anatomical localization of congenital vertebral anomalies (CVA). Radiographs of the cervical (C), thoracic (Th), lumbar (L), sacral (S), and caudal (Cd) part of the vertebral column were reviewed. Morphology and number of vertebrae in each segment of the vertebral column and type and localization of CVA were recorded. In 210/240 guinea pigs (87.50%) with normal vertebral morphology, nine vertebral formulae were found with constant number of C but variable number of Th, L, and S vertebrae: C7/Th13/L6/S4/Cd5-7 (75%), C7/Th13/L6/S3/Cd6-7 (4.17%), C7/Th13/L5/S4/Cd6-7 (2.50%), C7/Th13/L6/S5/Cd5-6 (1.67%), C7/Th12/L6/S4/Cd6 (1.25%), C7/Th13/L7/S4/Cd6 (1.25%), C7/Th13/L7/S3/Cd6-7 (0.83%), C7/Th12/L7/S4/Cd5 (0.42%), C7/Th13/L5/S5/Cd7 (0.42%). CVA were found in 30/240 (12.5%) of guinea pigs, mostly as a transitional vertebra (28/30), which represents 100% of single CVA localised in cervicothoracic (n = 1), thoracolumbar (n = 22) and lumbosacral segments (n = 5). Five morphological variants of thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae (TTV) were identified. Two (2/30) guinea pigs had a combination of CVA: cervical block vertebra and TTV (n = 1) and TTV and lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) (n = 1). These findings suggest that guinea pigs’ vertebral column displays more morphological variants with occasional CVA predominantly transitional vertebrae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Proks
- Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.M.J.); (I.N.); (D.K.)
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
| | - Trude Maria Johansen
- Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.M.J.); (I.N.); (D.K.)
| | - Ivana Nývltová
- Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.M.J.); (I.N.); (D.K.)
| | - Dominik Komenda
- Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.M.J.); (I.N.); (D.K.)
| | - Hana Černochová
- Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Massimo Vignoli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D’Accio, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
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Discovery of os cordis in the cardiac skeleton of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Sci Rep 2020; 10:9417. [PMID: 32523027 PMCID: PMC7286900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66345-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases, especially idiopathic myocardial fibrosis, is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in captive great apes. This study compared the structure and morphology of 16 hearts from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) which were either healthy or affected by myocardial fibrosis using X-ray microtomography. In four hearts, a single, hyperdense structure was detected within the right fibrous trigone of the cardiac skeleton. High resolution scans and histopathology revealed trabecular bones in two cases, hyaline cartilage in another case and a focus of mineralised fibro-cartilaginous metaplasia with endochondral ossification in the last case. Four other animals presented with multiple foci of ectopic calcification within the walls of the great vessels. All hearts affected by marked myocardial fibrosis presented with bone or cartilage formation, and increased collagen levels in tissues adjacent to the bone/cartilage, while unaffected hearts did not present with os cordis or cartilago cordis. The presence of an os cordis has been described in some ruminants, camelids, and otters, but never in great apes. This novel research indicates that an os cordis and cartilago cordis is present in some chimpanzees, particularly those affected by myocardial fibrosis, and could influence the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
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3D laser scanning in conjunction with surface texturing to evaluate shift and reduction of the tibiofemoral contact area after meniscectomy. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018; 88:41-47. [PMID: 30125786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Meniscectomy significantly change the kinematics of the knee joint by reducing the contact area between femoral condyles and the tibial plateau, but the shift in the contact area has been poorly described. The aim of our investigation was to measure the shift of the tibiofemoral contact area occurring after meniscectomy. We used laser scans combined to surface texturing for measuring the 3D position and area of the femoral and tibial surfaces involved in the joint. In particular, natural condyles (porcine model) were analysed and the reverse engineering approach was used for the interpretation of the results from compression tests and local force measurements in conjunction with staining techniques. The results suggested that laser scans combined to surface texturing may be considered as a powerful tool to investigate the stained contours of the contact area. Beside the largely documented reduction of contact area and local pressure increase, a shift of the centroid of the contact area toward the intercondylar notch was measured after meniscectomy. As a consequence of the contact area shift and pressure increase, cartilage degeneration close to the intercondylar notch may occur.
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Montoya‐Sanhueza G, Chinsamy A. Long bone histology of the subterranean rodent Bathyergus suillus (Bathyergidae): ontogenetic pattern of cortical bone thickening. J Anat 2017; 230:203-233. [PMID: 27682432 PMCID: PMC5244287 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Patterns of bone development in mammals are best known from terrestrial and cursorial groups, but there is a considerable gap in our understanding of how specializations for life underground affect bone growth and development. Likewise, studies of bone microstructure in wild populations are still scarce, and they often include few individuals and tend to be focused on adults. For these reasons, the processes generating bone microstructural variation at intra- and interspecific levels are not fully understood. This study comprehensively examines the bone microstructure of an extant population of Cape dune molerats, Bathyergus suillus (Bathyergidae), the largest subterranean mammal endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa. The aim of this study is to investigate the postnatal bone growth of B. suillus using undecalcified histological sections (n = 197) of the femur, humerus, tibia-fibula, ulna and radius, including males and females belonging to different ontogenetic and reproductive stages (n = 42). Qualitative histological features demonstrate a wide histodiversity with thickening of the cortex mainly resulting from endosteal and periosteal bone depositions, whilst there is scarce endosteal resorption and remodeling throughout ontogeny. This imbalanced bone modeling allows the tissues deposited during ontogeny to remain relatively intact, thus preserving an excellent record of growth. The distribution of the different bone tissues observed in the cortex depends on ontogenetic status, anatomical features (e.g. muscle attachment structures) and location on the bone (e.g. anterior or lateral). The type of bone microstructure and modeling is discussed in relation to digging behavior, reproduction and physiology of this species. This study is the first histological assessment describing the process of cortical thickening in long bones of a fossorial mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Montoya‐Sanhueza
- Department of Biological SciencesPalaeobiological Research GroupUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Anusuya Chinsamy
- Department of Biological SciencesPalaeobiological Research GroupUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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