Morphological Characterization of the Developing Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) Brain

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Oluwaseun Mustapha ◽  
Oluwaseun Ezekiel ◽  
Francis Olaolorun ◽  
Michael Awala-Ajakaiye ◽  
Eniola Popoola ◽  
...  

Developmental mode along the altricial-precocial spectrum is well known to be influenced by brain development and maturation. The greater cane rat (GCR) is an indigenous precocial African rodent with uncommon phenotypes and life traits. This study was therefore designed to characterize and describe distinctive external developmental features in the prenatal GCR brain across the entire gestational length using the emergence and differentiation of external features of the brain vesicles. Four gross morphometric brain parameters (weight, length, width, and height) were evaluated and expressed as mean ± SEM. Relationship between all brain morphometrics and gestation length were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and linear regression. Developmental milestones in the prenatal GCR were then compared with closely related precocial mammals. The earliest time point with gross observable features in the prenatal GCR brain was at gestation day (GD) 60. The period with the most remarkable gross developmental features was noted between GD80 and GD100. Some of these gross features include differentiation of the cerebellar plate into vermis and lateral lobes, emergence of the piriform lobes, mammillary bodies, colliculi bodies, cerebral peduncles, and primordial pons. By GD130, most gross topographic neural features were already established. Cerebellar lobation and patterning at GD130 were the last recognizable gross developmental features noticed in the prenatal GCR brain. This coincided with the time of first eye opening in the GCR fetus. The developmental pattern observed in the prenatal GCR brain is similar to those noted in precocial rodent like the guinea pig. However, the onset of these milestones was delayed, and their duration was relatively shorter in the GCR. This study provides a frame of baseline reference of morphological brain features in the GCR embryos and fetuses that will be useful for fetal age estimation, for home grown neurodevelopmental and eco-toxicological studies, as this rodent is being proposed as a research model.

1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Wadsworth ◽  
H. B. Jones ◽  
J. B. Cavanagh

Whole coronal slices from 6 levels of the brain of 16 cynomolgus monkeys (8 control and 8 treated by daily gavage with a novel pharmaceutical agent for one year) were examined histologically. Mineralized bodies were identified only in coronal sections passing through the optic chiasma and mammillary bodies. Identical mineralized structures were present in the basal ganglia of both control and treated animals. The majority were seen in the globus pallidus, occasionally in the putamen and once in the nearby caudate nucleus. These structures were partially ferruginated and also partially calcified. They appeared to arise in relation to small vessels. They are part of the naturally occurring background pathology of several species of non-human primates and the incidence in this study (3/8 control and 5/8 treated) was approximately what might be expected from reports in the literature. Mineralized bodies of the basal ganglia of primates represent a spontaneous lesion with a characteristic distribution. They may cause confusion in interpretation of toxicological studies if their natural occurrence is not appreciated.


Open Medicine ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihaela Chivu ◽  
Serban Nastasia ◽  
Camelia Sultana ◽  
Coralia Bleotu ◽  
Irina Alexiu ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, we analyzed the obstetric factors affecting total nucleated cells (TNC) content of cord blood units to establish the criteria for umbilical cord blood (UCB) donor selection in our geographic area.UCB was collected from normal uncomplicated pregnancies. In every case, following data were recorded: (1) gestation length; (2) type of delivery (cesarean or vaginal); and (3) newborn characteristics: weight and sex. For each sample, TNC content, percentage and number of CD34+ cells, and viability were analyzed.The results showed that TNC content increases with cord blood volume, gestational length and newborn weight. The mean blood volume and the mean TNC per unit were 42.37 ± 13.5 ml and 55.49 ± 19.4 × 107, respectively. Stepwise regression analysis revealed a positive and significant correlation (r= 0.89) between these two variables. Meanwhile the CD34+ cell content remains unchanged in deliveries at 32–40 weeks of gestation. The mean CD34+ percentage obtained was 0.37 ± 0.06, and the total number of CD34+ cells was 4.827 ± 0.8204 × 104 / mL UCB.Concluding, the maternal and obstetric factors have a significant impact on UCB cell quantity and quality. The main criteria for UCB collection and storage resulted to be: a gestational age higher than 36–40 weeks and newborn weight > 3200g; gestation number ≤ 2 and placental weight > 700g can be added to the standard criteria to improve the bank efficiency. Our results have also become helpful in evaluating stored UCB units to establish the adequacy for clinical transplant utilization.


Author(s):  
Vinaykumar R. H. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
...  

A large variation in the gestation length can be expected when the gestation is calculated from the day of mating to birth. The present study was designed to assess the influence of different factors like litter size, breed, parity and age on gestation length in bitches. A total of 89 small sized bitches of different breeds having different age, parity and body weight, were selected for the study. The mean age, body weight and parity of the animals included in the present study were 3.00 ± 0.15 years (1 to 8 years), 9.9 ± 0.25 Kg (6 to 15kg) and 1.14 ± 0.10 (0-4th parity) respectively. The mean gestation lengths observed in different small sized breeds were 60.68 ± 0.55, 59.82 ± 0.54, 60.78 ± 1.74, 58.83 ± 1.35 and 58.17 ± 0.74 in the Pug, Beagle, Dachshund, French Bulldog and the Spitz, respectively. The mean litter size in the study was 4.34 ± 0.13 with a range of 2-8. The mean gestational length in animals having ? 3 litter size was 60.83 ± 0.64 days and 59.90 ± 0.43 days in animals having >3 litter size. Age limit of the animals ranged from 1 to 8 years with a mean of 3 ± 0.15 years. The mean gestation length in bitches aged ?3 years was 60.21 ± 0.23 days (n=63) and this was 60.15 ± 0.3 (n=26) days in bitches in the >3 years group. Mean gestational length observed in nulliparous bitches was 60.86 ± 0.4 days (n=29), while in multiparous bitches it was 59.90 ± 0.5 days (n=60). From the present investigation it could be concluded that no significant difference exists in gestational length between different breeds, litter size, age group and parity.


Author(s):  
Rafael Ruiz-Hernández ◽  
Martha Hernández-Rodríguez ◽  
Rosy G. Cruz-Monterrosa ◽  
Mayra Díaz-Ramírez ◽  
Judith Jiménez-Guzmán ◽  
...  

Objective: to characterize the seeds of Moringa oleifera present in various crops in Mexico morphologically. Design / Methodology / Approach: An analysis of variance, principal components, and conglomerates of qualitative morphological descriptors (shape, color, presence of wings and wing color) and quantitative (length, width, and weight) were carried out. Results: Significant statistical differences (P˂0.05) were found in the seeds' length, width, weight, and almonds. The principal component analysis indicated that components 1 (70.58%) and 2 (25.59%) contributed 96.17% of the variation, and the cluster analysis identified four groups. The evaluated populations showed qualitative variation (shape, color, presence of wings, and color of wings) and quantitative (length, width, and weight). Study limitations/implications: the germination percentage could not be evaluated because no information was obtained on the age of the seed and the storage conditions. Result/Finding:Conclusion: This information enriches the knowledge of Moringa oleifera in Mexico and serves as a basis for selecting materials of most significant interest.


Author(s):  
Jamiu Oyewole Omirinde ◽  
Samuel Gbadebo Olukole ◽  
Bankole Olusiji Oke

This study evaluated age-related changes in the gross morphology and morphometry of the testis and epididymis of the African Greater Cane Rat (AGCR). Twenty pathogen-free cane rats used for this study were randomly divided into 4 groups; Group I - prepubertal (≤4 months), Group II - pubertal (>4≤12 months), Group III - adult (>12≤30 months), and Group IV - aged (>30 months) of 5 animals each. On day 8th of acclimatization, testis and epididymis were harvested from sedated cane rat, described grossly and standard morphometric parameters (length, width, circumference, weight, and relative weight) determined. Gross morphological observations in the testes of all the different age categories showed similar characteristically cream to milky-white coloration and ellipsoidal shape. The epididymis in the different AGCR group uniquely presents the same inverted S-shaped outline, loose attachment to the testis, and less distinct division into caput, corpus, and cauda segments. Testicular and epididymal morphometric parameters were significantly reduced in the prepubertal cane rat relative to other groups. The parameters consistently displayed an age-dependent increment with the advancing age of the animal. In conclusion, this study has shown that both testicular and epididymal gross morphometrics increase with age advancement and perhaps might be linked to the varying functional reproductive status of the different age groups of the African greater cane rat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Mariana Maciel Monteiro ◽  
Alexandre Indriunas ◽  
Elisa Mitsuko Aoyama

Acanthaceae is a wide spread family with usually capsular fruits, with two valves and explosive dehiscence containing two or more seeds. The morphological features of fruits and seeds are important in the identification at supra especific level, since they vary morphologically. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the morphology of the fruits and seeds of Ruellia furcata. This species is endemic to Brazil and restrict to restinga areas. The collection was carried out with the aid of a gauze type fabric. The fruits were measured in length of the sterile and fertile portion, total length, width, thickness, and retinacula height. The seeds were measured in length, width and thickness. For description, internal and external details were pointed. The fruits and seeds of R. furcata present morphological features that are commonly found in the genus however, its characteristics allow it to be positioned taxonomically and provide an understanding of its dispersion.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Mohamed Salman ◽  
Raphael Palomo Barreira ◽  
Marcelo Tognato Ximenes ◽  
Lucas Ghisleri ◽  
Vivian Gagliardi ◽  
...  

Introduction: Both Machiafava-Bigmami disease (MBD) and Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) result from hypovitaminosis mainly associated with chronic alcoholism. The former affects the corpus callosum while the latter affects mostly the mammillary bodies. There are two main clinical subtypes for MBD in Heinrich’s classification. In type A the entire corpus callosum is affected and is characterized by acute or subacute lowering of consciousness and pyramidal deficits. A poor outcome is expected even with initial, prompt therapy. Methods: Case study with medical record review. Case report: Female patient, 53 years old, with subacute monoparesis in the right lower limb, progressing to generalized paresis, altered mental status and communication impairment. She reported smoking and chronic alcohol addiction for 30 years. She was emaciated, dehydrated, drowsy, sometimes agitated; she had eye opening to speech, dysarthric, bradypsychic, hypoactive pupils, bilateral evoked horizontal nystagmus, proximal paresis with dystonic posture. Impaired coordination and gait, with no other positive findings. Head-CT showed hypodensity in the corpus callosum, more pronounced in the splenium. Head- MRI indicated signs of abnormal impregnation in the mammillary bodies, cerebellar atrophy in the anterior vermis, diffuse cytotoxic lesion in the corpus callosum compatible with toxic demyelination. Conclusion: Although rare, such conditions must be recognized and treated promptly in order to delay progress and improve prognosis.


Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Bravo ◽  
Francisco Rodriguez ◽  
Isabel Ramilo ◽  
Pilar Rial ◽  
Santiago Fraga

Dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Gambierdiscus produce ciguatoxins (CTXs), which are metabolized in fish to more toxic forms and subsequently cause ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) in humans. Five species of Gambierdiscus have been described from the Canary Islands, where CTXs in fish have been reported since 2004. Here we present new data on the distribution of Gambierdiscus species in the Canary archipelago and specifically from two islands, La Palma and La Gomera, where the genus had not been previously reported. Gambierdiscus spp. concentrations were low, with maxima of 88 and 29 cells·g−1 wet weight in samples from La Gomera and La Palma, respectively. Molecular analysis (LSUrRNA gene sequences) revealed differences in the species distribution between the two islands: only G. excentricus was detected at La Palma whereas four species, G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, and G. excentricus, were identified from La Gomera. Morphometric analyses of cultured cells of the five Canary Islands species and of field specimens from La Gomera included cell size and a characterization of three thecal arrangement traits: (1) the shape of the 2′ plate, (2) the position of Po in the anterior suture of the 2′ plate, and (3) the length–width relationship of the 2″″ plate. Despite the wide morphological variability within the culture and field samples, the use of two or more variables allowed the discrimination of two species in the La Gomera samples: G. cf. excentricus and G. cf. silvae. A comparison of the molecular data with the morphologically based classification demonstrated important coincidences, such as the dominance of G. excentricus, but also differences in the species composition of Gambierdiscus, as G. caribaeus was detected in the study area only by using molecular methods.


Author(s):  
B. L. Soloff ◽  
T. A. Rado

Mycobacteriophage R1 was originally isolated from a lysogenic culture of M. butyricum. The virus was propagated on a leucine-requiring derivative of M. smegmatis, 607 leu−, isolated by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis of typestrain ATCC 607. Growth was accomplished in a minimal medium containing glycerol and glucose as carbon source and enriched by the addition of 80 μg/ ml L-leucine. Bacteria in early logarithmic growth phase were infected with virus at a multiplicity of 5, and incubated with aeration for 8 hours. The partially lysed suspension was diluted 1:10 in growth medium and incubated for a further 8 hours. This permitted stationary phase cells to re-enter logarithmic growth and resulted in complete lysis of the culture.


Author(s):  
T.B. Ball ◽  
W.M. Hess

It has been demonstrated that cross sections of bundles of hair can be effectively studied using image analysis. These studies can help to elucidate morphological differences of hair from one region of the body to another. The purpose of the present investigation was to use image analysis to determine whether morphological differences could be demonstrated between male and female human Caucasian terminal scalp hair.Hair samples were taken from the back of the head from 18 caucasoid males and 13 caucasoid females (Figs. 1-2). Bundles of 50 hairs were processed for cross-sectional examination and then analyzed using Prism Image Analysis software on a Macintosh llci computer. Twenty morphological parameters of size and shape were evaluated for each hair cross-section. The size parameters evaluated were area, convex area, perimeter, convex perimeter, length, breadth, fiber length, width, equivalent diameter, and inscribed radius. The shape parameters considered were formfactor, roundness, convexity, solidity, compactness, aspect ratio, elongation, curl, and fractal dimension.


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