Histomorphological, histochemical and scanning electron microscopic investigation of the proventriculus (Ventriculus glandularis) of the hooded crow (Corvus cornix).

The current investigation aimed to clarify the histomorphological features, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histochemistry of the proventriculus in the adult hooded crow (Corvus cornix). Twenty-two adult birds of both sexes were collected from El-Fayoum and Beni-Suef governorates, Egypt; ten were used for anatomical investigation, two were scanned using SEM, and ten were subjected to routine histological technique. The obtained anatomical results revealed a small-sized spindle-shaped proventriculus obliquely located in the left ventral part of the body cavity with an average body weight, length and diameter of 1.689 ± 0.231 gm, 1.54 ± 0.383cm and 3.51 ± 0.416cm, respectively. The histological examination revealed a typical tubular organ. The mucosa exhibited several plicae and sulci that were lined with simple columnar cells. The lamina propria was composed of collagenous connective tissue infiltrated by lymphocytes, lymphatic aggregations and tubular glands. The submucosa consisted of collagenic fibres and compound tubuloalveolar glandular lobules lined with oxynticopeptic cells and enteroendocrine cells. The oxynticopeptic cells reacted negatively with PAS and Alcian Blue stains, whereas the ductal cells reacted positively with PAS only. Enteroendocrine cells were seen singly in the lamina epithelialis mucosae and were abundant in submucosal glands. The tunica musclaris was arranged in two layers covered by serosa. The proventricular glands' openings were noticed by SEM as raised tubes with regular circular outlines surrounded by anastomosed microscopic folds. The obtained histomorphological structure of the hooded crow's proventriculus revealed some shared morphological features with most species of birds and some variations that might be attributed to their diet and feeding behaviour.

Morphological characteristics of the forebrain in the donkey (Equus asinus): A compared atlas of magnetic resonance imaging and cross-sectional anatomy.

The brain is the most essential part of the central nervous system which regulates and coordinates all body activities. Based on its phylogenetic development from the neural tube, the brain is divided into rhombencephalon (hindbrain), mesencephalon (midbrain) and prosencephalon (forebrain). The present study is achieved to describe the morphological characteristics of the normal forebrain in the donkey using the matched magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cross-sectional anatomy. Ten cadaveric heads of healthy adult donkeys of both sexes were used. Two heads were examined using a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, and the brains of the other heads were gently extracted; six brains were sectioned into transverse, dorsal and sagittal slices, and two brains were grossly inspected. MR images were selected in correlation to their closely corresponding gross sections. Both cross-sectional anatomy and MRI scans showed extensive gyration of the neocortex. The forebrain structures appeared with variable intensities on three sequences, Flair, T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI, enabling comprehensive evaluation of the relevant neuroanatomical structures. The present study provided a precise neuroanatomical atlas of the forebrain in the donkey which could help in the quick and efficient interpretation of clinical diseases of the forebrain, localization of the forebrain functions and evolutionary neurobiology.

Gross anatomical, computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging study of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint in Egyptian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The current study aimed to describe the normal gross anatomy, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint in Egyptian buffalo, and to determine the site of intra-articular injection of this joint. This study was conducted on eighteen fresh cadaveric distal limbs of healthy Egyptian buffaloes. Six cadaveric MCP/MTP joints were freshly dissected for studying their normal morphological features and determination of the suitable site for intra-articular injection. Another twelve MCP/MTP joints were imaged using a 16-slice CT scanner and a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, injected with coloured latex and then sectioned into dorsal, sagittal and transverse slices. The articular surface, joint cavity, ligaments and surrounding tendons of the MCP/MTP joint were identified and briefly described. CT and MRI provided identification of the bony and soft tissue structures of the MCP/MTP joint with variable signal intensities. The present study provided a brief description of the normal gross anatomy of MCP/MTP joint in buffalo to serve as a reference for the evaluation of CT and MRI images, which in turn could enable the veterinary clinicians in interpretation of the clinical diseases in this joint.