bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Study of the Diaphragm of the Opossum (Didelphis albiventris)
Authors: Cassel F. D. , Soares J. C. , Torrejais M. M. , Matheus* S. M. M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe anatomical characteristics of the South American opossum diaphragm were described. Five male and seven female adult opossums, weighing between 700 and 1110 g, were used. Animals were killed by ether inhalation saturation. The abdominal and thoracic walls were dissected and opened, the viscerae were removed and the diaphragm anatomy was described and photographed in situ. After diaphragm removal, some dimensional data were taken and tabled. Primary branches of the phrenic nerves were dissected under a surgical microscope. The secondary branches were studied and described by transillumination after clarification in acetic acid. The opossum diaphragm is domed and has a mean area of 54.33 ± 3.8 cm2. Well‐identified costal, sternal and lumbar parts form the peripheral muscular region. The central tendinous region presents with a V‐like form. Three folioles comprise the phrenic centre and present different dimensions. The caudal vena cava passes through its foramen between the ventral and right dorsal folioles. Both right and left phrenic nerves present one ventral branch and one dorsolateral trunk in 50.0% and 66.67% of the cases, respectively.
Morphological Investigation of Carotid Body and Its Arteries in Rabbits
Authors: Unur E. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to determine the morphology of the rabbit carotid body and its artery at the light microscopy level. The carotid body was situated between the internal and external carotid arteries after the bifurcation point of the common carotid artery. The carotid body was usually found to be a single, ovoid tissue mass but, in some cases it consisted of two or three parts. More carotid bodies were supplied by a single carotid body artery (glomic artery) which arose from the common carotid artery or the internal or external carotid arteries near the bifurcation point of the common carotid artery.In only one case were there two arteries which arose from opposite sides of the external carotid artery at its origin. There was a distinguishable sinus (glomic sinus) at the origin of the glomic artery. This artery had a thin wall with elastic laminae in the sinus area which become thinner distal to the sinus.
Pluripotent Stem Cells – Model of Embryonic Development, Tool for Gene Targeting, and Basis of Cell Therapy
Authors: Prelle KATJA , ZINK NICOLA , Wolf Eckhard 
Published: March 2003

SummaryEmbryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cell lines with the capacity of self‐renewal and a broad differentiation plasticity. They are derived from pre‐implantation embryos and can be propagated as a homogeneous, uncommitted cell population for an almost unlimited period of time without losing their pluripotency and their stable karyotype. Murine ES cells are able to reintegrate fully into embryogenesis when returned into an early embryo, even after extensive genetic manipulation. In the resulting chimeric offspring produced by blastocyst injection or morula aggregation, ES cell descendants are represented among all cell types, including functional gametes. Therefore, mouse ES cells represent an important tool for genetic engineering, in particular via homologous recombination, to introduce gene knock‐outs and other precise genomic modifications into the mouse germ line. Because of these properties ES cell technology is of high interest for other model organisms and for livestock species like cattle and pigs. However, in spite of tremendous research activities, no proven ES cells colonizing the germ line have yet been established for vertebrate species other than the mouse (Evans and Kaufman, 1981; Martin, 1981) and chicken (Pain et al., 1996).The in vitro differentiation capacity of ES cells provides unique opportunities for experimental analysis of gene regulation and function during cell commitment and differentiation in early embryogenesis. Recently, pluripotent stem cells were established from human embryos (Thomson et al., 1998) and early fetuses (Shamblott et al., 1998), opening new scenarios both for research in human developmental biology and for medical applications, i.e. cell replacement strategies. At about the same time, research activities focused on characteristics and differentiation potential of somatic stem cells, unravelling an unexpected plasticity of these cell types. Somatic stem cells are found in differentiated tissues and can renew themselves in addition to generating the specialized cell types of the tissue from which they originate. Additional to discoveries of somatic stem cells in tissues that were previously not thought to contain these kinds of cells, they also appear to be capable of developing into cell types of other tissues, but have a reduced differentiation potential as compared to embryo‐derived stem cells. Therefore, somatic stem cells are referred to as multipotent rather than pluripotent. This review summarizes characteristics of pluripotent stem cells in the mouse and in selected livestock species, explains their use for genetic engineering and basic research on embryonic development, and evaluates their potential for cell therapy as compared to somatic stem cells.
Morphological Studies on Meckel's Diverticulum in Geese (Anser Anser Domesticus)
Authors: Besoluk K. , Eken E. , Boydak M. , Tipirdamaz S. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThis study was carried out to reveal the morphological features of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) in geese. For this purpose, a total of 36 adult healthy geese of both sexes, 50–52 weeks of age, were used. The mean weight of MD in male was found to be significantly larger than that of female. It was located a little distal to the midpoint of the small intestine in both sexes. It had a lot of lymphoid tissues, the simple columnar epithelium and a small number of crypts, and was a lack of villi, and its muscularis mucosae was very thin. Results from this study are thought to throw light on future studies on MD and proper diagnosis of pathological disorders related to it, and to contribute considerably to the present anatomical knowledge on MD in geese.
Post‐natal Development in the Linear and Tric Morphometrics of the Camelidae Skull
Authors: Al‐Sagair O. , ElMougy S. A. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe craniometric measurements in addition to the skull, cranial and facial indices undertaken in the immature and mature maleCamelus dromedariusof the Malha phenotype (black) were: the skull length (35.99 cm), maximum width of neurocranium (11.33 cm), cranial length (15.45 cm), maximum zygomatic width (14.81 cm), viscerocranial length (20.55 cm), skull index (41.13), cranial index (73.70), facial index (72.31), cranial volume (231.73 ml) and skull weight (795.70 g) were measured in the immature camels. In the mature camels, the skulls gave the following measurements: the skull length (50.53 cm), maximum width of neurocranium (15.96 cm), cranial length (21.93 cm), maximum zygomatic width (22.75 cm), viscerocranial length (28.60 cm), skull index (45.06), cranial index (72.99), facial index (79.83), cranial volume (310.80 ml) and skull weight (2598.31 g). The results of a total of 30 skulls of immature and mature Malha camel revealed that all the measurements increased with age whereas the cranial index was the only parameter for which a decreased value was recorded. The anterior basicranial angle averaged about 203°in the immature animal to increase to an insignificant value of 204°in the mature camel skull. Similarly, the posterior basicranial angle did not exhibit a significant difference between the immature and mature values, which ranged between 110 and112°,respectively.
An Immunohistochemical Study of the Organization of Ganglia and Nerve Fibres in the Mucosa of the Porcine Intestine
Authors: Balemba O. B. , Hay‐Schmidt A. , Assey R. J. , Kahwa C. K. B. , Semuguruka W. D. , Dantzer V. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIn order to elucidate the organization of the enteric nervous system in the mucous plexus, wholemounts from six intestinal regions in six pigs were studied by vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, nitric oxide synthase and neurofilament proteins immunohistochemistry. The mucous plexus of both large and small intestine contained ganglia and isolated neurons. They were many and comparably larger in the caecum and colon, few in the ileum, and fewer and smaller in the jejunum. The mucous plexus was subdivided into the lamina muscularis mucosae and lamina proprial subplexuses, and based on location the latter was subdivided further in order to clarify their variations with respect to the amount, sizes and shapes of ganglia and neurons, sizes and orientation of nerve strands and immunoreactivities. Ganglia were situated at different topographical levels in the lamina muscularis mucosae subplexus, outer proprial and interglandular proprial meshworks in the lamina proprial subplexus with the majority of ganglia occurring in the outer proprial meshwork. The mucous plexus in the intestine of the pig is thus a ganglionated plexus showing marked segmental variation in the amount of intramucosal ganglia and isolated nerve cells. These new observations, calls for a re‐examination of the mucous plexus to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of importance in mucosal functions and consideration of the mucous plexus in the intestine of the pig to be one of the major ganglionated plexuses.
Growth Marks Observation: Preferential Techniques and Teeth for Ageing of Spanish Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)
Authors: Azorit C. , Analla M. , Hervas J. , Carrasco R. , Muñoz‐Cobo J. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA total of 207 teeth belonging to 53 deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) from Sierra Morena (South of Spain) were analysed using histological thin sections and/or polished thick sections. Growth marks were observed in dentine and cementum of incisors, molars and canines. Tooth, region of the tooth, and type of preparation giving the best performance in terms of sharpness and interpretation ease of the growth marks, when used for Spanish deer ageing, were identified. The tissue chosen for the study was the cellular cementum of the inter‐radicular pad from molars and the acellular cementum of the root from incisors, both observed through longitudinal cuts. Histological sections obtained with a conventional microtome were optimal for a reliable identification of the first growth marks. In sections thicker than 15 μm the first rest line, when observed in cementum can be confused with the cementum–dentine junction; whereas in the polished sections from molars it will not appear at all. Dentine interpretation was more difficult. Its observation should only be accomplished using cross‐sections of the molar root. Secondary or accessory marks were visible in every tooth, being those from the molar pad the easiest to distinguish. Canines were the less suitable teeth for this study.
Anatomicohistological Characteristics of the Genital Tubular Organs of the Female Brush‐tailed Porcupine (Atherurus africanus, Gray 1842) from Gabon
Authors: Mayor P. , López‐Béjar M. , Jori F. , Rutllant J. , López‐Plana C. , López‐Gatius F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe present study examines the anatomic and histological characteristics of the female genital tract of the wild brush‐tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus). A description of the macroscopic and microscopic features of the tubular genital organs based on observations made in 18 wild adult females is presented. The histological stains used were haematoxylin and eosin, 1% toluidine blue, PAS–haematoxylin and Masson's trichrome. Observations indicate that the fimbriated infundibulum of the oviduct completely surrounds and is attached to the entire ovarian surface. The uterus is bicornuate, being composed of two uterine horns separated by a velum uteri, a small uterine body and a cervix. In both pregnant and non‐pregnant females, the uterine horns and body of the uterus present a pseudostratified, columnar ciliated epithelium containing sparse simple tubular glands. In pregnant females, the endocervical canal is filled by a viscous cervical secretion. The different patterns observed in the endometrium and myometrium of the uterine horns and in the vaginal epithelium suggest a relationship with the reproductive state of the brush‐tailed porcupine female.
Morphological Aspects of the Capybara Stomach (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris): Gross and Microscopic Structure
Authors: de Barros Moraes P. T. , Pacheco M. R. , de Souza W. M. , Da Silva R. A. , Neto P. B. S. , de Figueiredo Barreto C. S. , Ribeiro A. A. C. M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe digestive system of the capybara has been investigated because of its coprofagia habits, important for their absorptive activity. These species present differences in terms of gastrointestinal morphological characters when compared with other rodents. Macroscopiclly, the stomach of the capybara is constituted of the following parts: cardiac, pyloric, body, fundic and gastric diverticulum. It presents two curvatures, one big and another small. Externally, the presence of gastric bands (tenias) is observed. With regards to the volumetric view, the gastric capacity varies from 850 to 2010 ml, with an average of 1498.57 ml. So, the stomach of this animal can be classified as a simple stomach, in the format of a curved sack and similar to an inverted letter ‘J’. The gastric mucous membrane presents a surface filled by numerous tortuous gastric folds and longitudinally distributed along all its extension. The mucous tunic also possesses recesses located among the successive gastric folds, which were denoted as gastric parts with numerous openings described as gastric pits. In the cardiac part, a glandular epithelium with cardiac glands is noticed containing a lot of parietal and mucous neck cells. The fundic part, body and gastric diverticulum contain proper gastric glands with main, parietal and mucous neck cells. Finally, the pyloric part has pyloric glands with two cellular types, mucous neck and parietal cells.
Surface Alterations in the Bovine Pelvic Peritoneum following Rectal Examination of Reproductive Organs: a Scanning Electron Microscopy Study
Authors: Yániz J. , Santolaria P. , López‐Gatius F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe aim of the present study was to evaluate possible injury provoked by an intensive reproductive programme based on rectal palpation in the cow. Alterations to the mesothelial surface of the peritoneum and to the oviductal mucosa were explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nine multiparous Friesian cows were selected from each of two commercial dairy herds. Cows in herd 1 were maintained on a weekly reproductive health programme, while those in herd 2 were not subjected to gynaecological exploration. Surface features of the mesothelial cells of the reproductive tract and adjacent ligaments, and the oviductal mucosa were explored by SEM observation of tissue specimens from each animal. Six cows in the intensive reproductive programme showed microscopic alterations of the peritoneal surface. Strands were observed in the oviducts and adjacent ligaments in five of these cows. These strands, composed of filaments covered with mesothelial cells, were probably adhesions. Cells with abundant vacuoles on their surface were detected in the mesothelium corresponding to three animals, two of which also showed microscopic strands. No peritoneal surface alterations were observed in the cows from herd 2. No oviductal mucosal modifications were detected in either group. These findings suggest that intensive reproductive programmes based on rectal palpation may increase the risk of peritoneal surface alterations in the cow, but effects on reproductive physiology are unlikely.
Cleavage Line Patterns in Beagle Dogs: as a Guideline for Use in Dermatoplasty
Authors: Oiki N. , Nishida T. , Ichihara N. , Nakajima H. , Amasaki H. , Asari M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryWe prepared a map of the cleavage lines for beagle dogs, as a guideline for use of cleavage lines in dermatoplasty. The cleavage lines at the head resembled the orientation of the underlying muscles. Although the cleavage lines in the trunk were perpendicular to the body axis, those in the thoraco‐abdominal region were parallel to the body axis. The cleavage lines at the limbs were parallel to the long axis of the limb on the cranial surface, but were perpendicular to the long axis of the limb on the lateral and caudal surfaces. Also, we recorded in detail the cleavage lines in the distal regions of the limbs.
Large Interarcuate Spaces in the Cervical Vertebral Column of the Tyrolean Mountain Sheep
Authors: Turkof E. , Jurasch N. , Grassberger M. , Schwendenwein S. , Habib D. , Knolle E. , Losert U. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryLarge interarcual spaces have been described between the arcus vertebrae C5/C6 and C6/C7 in the cervical vertebral column of Nubian goats. This aperture enables direct access to spinal cord and rootlets without the need to perform a hemilaminectomy. The present study was performed in order to determine whether these large interarcual spaces can also be found in the vertebral column of the Tyrolean mountain sheep, as this small ruminant, which is anatomically very similar to the Nubian goat, is frequently used for experimental purposes at the Surgical University Clinic in Austria.The carcasses of 10 sheep (six females, four males; range of age: 2.5–6 years, range of weight: 52–89 kg) were dissected and the vertebral column was exposed.All 10 sheep showed elliptic openings between the fourth cervical and the first thoracal vertebrae. Three sheep had additional openings between the first and the second thoracal vertebrae. All openings were covered solitarily by the ligamentum flavum and under this ligamentum lay the spinal cord without any further osseous or ligamentous protection. These findings are not mentioned in the common textbooks of veterinary anatomy and deserve attention, as they can be a step forward towards non‐traumatic experimental surgery on the spinal cord.
Age‐Related Changes in Rat Optic Nerve: Morphological Studies
Authors: Cavallotti C. , Cavallotti D. , Pescosolido N. , Pacella E. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryAge‐related changes of the optic nerve were studied in 3‐month‐old (young), 12‐month‐old (adult) and 24‐month‐old (aged) male Sprague–Dawley rats. Cross sections of the intracranial portion of the optic nerves of animals of different age groups were stained with haematoxylin–eosin and examined under a light microscope at low and high magnification. Other sections were stained with crystal violet for demonstration of glial cells. A third group of sections were stained immunohistochemically to detect glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) which is a marker for localizing and characterizing astrocytes. All morphological results were subjected to the quantitative analysis of images and to statistical analysis to identify significant morphometrical data. Tissue protein concentrations were determined on homogenized fragments of optic nerve. Our results demonstrate the following age‐related changes : (1) increase of the optic nerve sheaths (meningeal membranes); (2) increased number of astrocytes; (3) increase of areal density of GFAP immunoreactivity; (4) increased diameter and area of the optic nerve; (5) decreased number of nerve fibres; (6) decreased size of nerve fibres and (7) decrease of the nerve fibres/meningeal membrane ratio from 3 : 1 to 1 : 1. Moreover, the protein amount does not change with age. The rat optic nerve, therefore, appears sensitive to ageing processes and can be considered as a useful model for the studies on neuronal ageing.
Alcohol Effects on the Principal and Clear Cells of the Caput Epididymis of Albino Rats
Authors: Pereira M. A. S. , Orsi A. M. , Molinari S. L. , Garcia P. J. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryUltrastructural observations of principal cells of the epithelium lining of the proximal caput epididymis in experimental alcoholic albino rats at 180 days of treatment showed pyknotic nuclei, ill‐defined cellular organelles and clusters of electrondense bodies, perhaps lysosomes. It was also verified for a progressive accumulation of lipid droplets initially in the basal and perinuclear cytoplasm and finally in the apical cytoplasm of principal cells at 60, 120 and 180 days of experimentation, respectively. The clear cells of alcoholic rats at 180 days showed the cytoplasm totally filled with lipid droplets. These findings were taken comparatively with the morphological features of the same epididymal cells in control (normal) rats.
Localization of Neuropeptide Y‐like Immunoreactive Structures in the Brain of the Pejerrey, Odontesthes bonariensis (Teleostei, Atheriniformes)
Authors: Traverso J. M. , Ravaglia M. A. , Vissio P. G. , Maggese M. C. , Paz D. A. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the distribution of Neuropeptide‐Y (NPY) immunoreactive neurons and fibres in the brain and pituitary of Odontesthes bonariensis by immunohistochemical methods. A wide distribution of immunoreactive NPY (ir‐NPY) cells and fibres in the forebrain and midbrain was observed. A prominent ir‐NPY nucleus was found in the ventral telencephalon and other ir‐NPY cells groups were recognized at the dorso‐medial telencephalon. The diencephalon showed ir‐NPY cells in the Nucleus entopeduncularis, the Nucleus preopticus periventricularis and in the Nucleus lateralis tuberis. Ir‐NPY fibres were conspicuous in the preoptic region and the hypothalamus. There were also numerous ir‐NPY fibres at the epithalamic level running ventrally to the hypothalamus and the pituitary stalk. At the rhomboencephalic level, the ir‐NPY neurons were observed in the Locus coeruleus. Double‐labelled immunostaining showed a close association between ir‐NPY fibres that reach the adenohypophysis and growth hormone (GH)‐ and gonadotropin (GtH)‐expressing cells. Although our results exhibit some relevant differences when compared to other fish groups, they support the existence of a conserved NPY system in teleosts.
Post‐Natal Maturation of Acinar Cells of the Guinea Pig Pancreas: An Ultrastructural Morphometric Study
Authors: De Assis G. F. , Cestari T. M. , Sesso A. , Taga R. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe morphological maturation of the acinar cells of the guinea pig pancreas during post‐natal development was characterized morphometrically by determining the intracytoplasmic accumulation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and zymogen granules. The following results were obtained for the period analysed, i.e., from 2 to 70 days of post‐natal life: (a) the acinar cell volume increased by 210% (P < 0.01); (b) the mostly cisternal RER occupied more than 30% of the cytoplasm at any age studied and their total volume and surface in the cell were increased by 300 and 534% (P < 0.01), respectively; (c) maturation in the morphological pattern of the RER was observed; (d) the mean number of zymogen granules per cell increased from 261 at 2 days to 422 at 70 days (P < 0.01), while their mean diameter increased from 0.52 to 0.94 μm (P < 0.01) during the same period; (e) these increases in granule number and size were responsible for a 500% (P < 0.01) increase in total volume from 2 to 70 days and for a 304% increase (P < 0.01) in total surface from 2 to 35 days; (f) the RER and the zymogen granules together occupied 44, 54, 55 and 57% of the cytoplasm at 2, 14, 35 and 70 days of age, respectively. We conclude that although the pancreatic acinar cells of the guinea pig are morphologically well differentiated at 2 days of age, with the cytoplasm already showing a large amount of RER and zymogen granules, they are still immature. Morphological maturation of the acinar cell occurs during the first months of post‐natal life and is characterized by a substantial gain in cell volume and intracytoplasmic accumulation of RER and zymogen granules, which significantly increase of both their absolute volume and total surface, with a higher growth rate being observed during the period from 2 to 14 days of post‐natal life.