Morphometric Features and Microanatomy of the Lingual Filiform Papillae in the Wistar Rat.

The mammalian tongue plays a fundamental role in various physiological and behavioral activities. Significant morphological variations have been recorded in the tongue of several species. This study aims to obtain detailed histological and morphometric information about the filiform papillae on the surface of rat tongue. The tongues of five 10-month-old Wistar rats were utilized, which were later examined with a stereo-microscope. Fragments from the three regions of the tongue were collected for histological investigations. The tongue of the Wistar rat has an intensely keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, with the highest degree of keratinized epithelium covering the filiform papillae. The filiform papillae differ in density, with the highest density recorded on the posterior part of the lingual body and the lowest density on the protuberance. The shortest filiform papillae were observed on the apex of the tongue and the tallest on the anterior part of the lingual body. Interestingly, the orientation of the filiform papillae on the lingual protuberance was inclined posteroanteriorly, in the opposite way as compared to the papillae from all the other regions of the tongue. Histologically, a difference was recorded in the structure of the covering epithelium of the anterior vs. the posterior face of the filiform papillae.

The influence of haematogenous bone marrow on the early osseointegration of a titanium implant which penetrates the endosteum / La influencia de la médula ósea hematógena en la osteointegración temprana de un implante de titanio que penetra en el endostio

SUMMARY: The utility of metallic bio-medical implants in osseous or dental affections is irrefutable. The paper aims to test the tolerance of the bone marrow to titanium implants. Titanium implants were inserted in the femur of 11-months old rabbits. The implants penetrated the endosteum, half of their length getting into the haematogenous bone marrow. Seven days after the insertion we collected bone fragments containing the implant. The CT exam revealed a significant decrease in the density of the bone at the interface with the implant and a more discrete one aloof from the insertion area. The histologic exam after 7 days revealed osseous reparatory processes only in the endosteal area from where it expanded on the surface of the implant which was inside the marrow. The presence and intensity of the osseous reparatory processes after only seven days post-implant demonstrates that the marrow actively participates in bone regeneration and implants osseointegration.

RESUMEN: La utilidad de los implantes biomédicos metálicos en afecciones óseas o dentales es irrefutable. El documento tiene como objetivo probar la tolerancia de la médula ósea a los implantes de titanio. Se insertaron implantes de titanio en el fémur de conejos de 11 meses. Los implantes penetraron en el endostio y la mitad de su longitud penetró en la médula ósea hematógena. Siete días después de la inserción, recolectamos fragmentos de hueso que contenían el implante. El examen de TC reveló una disminución significativa en la densidad del hueso en la interfaz con el implante y una más discreta alejada del área de inserción. El examen histológico a los 7 días reveló procesos de reparación ósea solo en el área endóstica desde donde se expandió en la superficie del implante que estaba dentro de la médula. La presencia e intensidad de los procesos de reparación ósea después de solo siete días del implante demuestra que la médula ósea participa activamente en la regeneración ósea y en la osteointegración de los implantes.

Histochemical assessment of mucin-secreting cells in the stomach of domestic rabbit / Evaluación histoquímica de células secretoras de mucina en el estómago de conejo doméstico

SUMMARY: The mucous substances of the stomach in mammals are important not only for the protection of the gastric epithelium from the acid environment and grinding actions, but it facilitates some other functions of the stomach such as antibacterial, antimetastatic, and immunological roles. The goal of the study is to highlight the distribution of mucin-secreting cells in the gastric mucosa in domestic rabbits, including the type of mucus synthesized. The gastric samples collected from ten individual rabbits were fixed in 10 % buffered formalin and underwent later standard paraffin tissue sample processing, which included dehydration, clarification, and embedding in paraffin. The tissue sections were eventually stained histochemically by PAS reaction and by Alcian blue method (pH 2.5) for neutral and acidic mucins detection, respectively. The quantification of mucins in the cytoplasm of mucus-secreting cells was performed by grading the gastric tissue samples from negative (-) to intensely positive (++). The mucus elaboration was observed in all the regions of the stomach (i.e., cardial, fundic, and pyloric regions), but only for the neutral mucin. The acidic mucin synthesis occurred only in the secretory units of the gastric glands from the cardial region in the stomach. Pyloric glands synthesized the largest amounts of neutral mucins, followed by moderate amounts elaborated by cardial glands, while the fundic region does not synthesize it at all. The description of new microscopic features of the stomach in rabbits is fundamental not only for comprehending species-related physiological features but gastric pathological processes.

RESUMEN: Las sustancias mucosas del estómago en los mamíferos son importantes no solo para la protección del epitelio gástrico del ambiente ácido y las acciones de trituración, sino que facilitan además otras funciones del estómago, como son las funciones antibacterianas, antimetastásicas e inmunológicas. El objetivo del estudio fue resaltar la distribución de las células secretoras de mucina en la mucosa gástrica de conejos domésticos, incluido el tipo de moco sintetizado. Las muestras gástricas recolectadas de diez conejos se fijaron en formalina tamponada al 10 % y se sometieron a un procesamiento que incluyó deshidratación, clarificación e inclusión en parafina. Las secciones de tejido finalmente se tiñeron histoquímicamente mediante la reacción de PAS y el método del azul de Alcian (pH 2,5) para la detección de mucinas neutras y ácidas, respectivamente. La cuantificación de mucinas en el citoplasma de las células secretoras de moco se realizó clasificando las muestras de tejido gástrico desde negativas (-) hasta intensamente positivas (++). La elaboración de moco se observó en todas las regiones del estómago (es decir, cardias, fúndica y pilórica), pero solo para la mucina neutra. La síntesis de mucina ácida ocurrió solo en las unidades secretoras de las glándulas gástricas de la región correspondiente al cardias del estómago. Las glándulas pilóricas sintetizaron la mayor cantidad de mucinas neutras, seguidas de cantidades moderadas elaboradas por las glándulas cardiales, mientras que la región fúndica no las sintetizó en abso- luto. La descripción de nuevas características microscópicas del estómago en conejos es fundamental no solo para comprender las características fisiológicas relacionadas con las especies sino también para entender los procesos patológicos gástricos.

Multidisciplinary analysis of Knemidocoptes jamaicensis parasitising the Common Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs: proofs for a multispecies complex?

The number of studies discussing the pathology and host specificity in Knemidocoptinae is very limited. In Knemidocoptes jamaicensis, the host specificity seems to be very broad, and there is a clear morphological variability in individuals originating from various bird species; hence, serious doubts appear about the species status of this mite. We report a multidisciplinary approach to the taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and pathology of K. jamaicensis. The source of the mites in our study was a second year aged female of the Common Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs, which accidentally died in the mist net during a field study in Dumbrava, Cluj County, Romania in March 2011. Comparisons of the biometrical data regarding the body dimensions, length of certain setae, and distances between bases of dorsal setae with other published data showed a great variability of certain measurements between populations infecting various hosts and localities and sometimes even within single populations. Gross and histologic lesions consisted in severe bilateral orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and epidermal spongiosis. Lesions also involved the skin of the joints. Skin inflammation was absent, and no lesions were noticed in the metatarsus bone. Following molecular analysis, the 518-base-long sequence differed from the published 18S rDNA in nine positions. Additionally, our paper reports for the first time the DNA barcode sequences of K. jamaicensis and, together with the synoptic analysis of host spectrum, geographical distribution and morphological variability it brings important evidences to sustain the hypothesis of multispecies complex for K. jamaicensis.

Effects of astaxanthin supplementation on chemically induced tumorigenesis in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Astaxanthin (ASTA) is a fat-soluble xanthophyll with powerful antioxidant functions. It is extracted from e.g. salmon, an important food source for certain human populations known to have a reduced risk of tumor development. It is possible that ASTA plays a role in cancer chemoprevention in such populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis using N-methyl-N-nitroso-urea (MNU) in immature Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-six 37 days old juvenile female Wistar rats were at random allocated to 4 groups of which Groups 1 and 2 received a single dose of 55 mg MNU/kg body weight. The effects of ASTA was evaluated by giving rats of Groups 2 and 4 a dose of 50 mg ASTA/kg/day for the entire duration of the study. Group 3 rats received feed added alimentary oil.Necropsy and histopathological examinations were carried out on each rat 14 months after the administration of MNU. Haematological values and antioxidative status were determined. Oxidative stress was evaluated by monitoring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in hepatic tissue. Lipid peroxidation and carbonylation of proteins was determined in protein extracts from the liver. RESULTS: Tumor development occurred only in rats of Groups 1 and 2, i.e. MNU exposed animals. Frequency of tumor development in general and average number of tumors per animal were insignificant between these two groups. Mammary gland tumors developed in equal frequencies in Group 1 and 2 rats, respectively. Although only rather few tumors were found in the mammary glands, a substantial number of other tumors were found in Group 1 and 2 rats, but at equal rates.Biochemical analyses showed significant higher levels of GPx, malondialdehyde and dinitrophenylhydrazine in Group 1 rats that for rats in all other groups thus indicating protective effects of ASTA on MNU induced hepatic oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with ASTA did not reduce tumorigenesis induced by MNU in Wistar rats. However, supplementation with ASTA seemed to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Metastatic cholangiocarcinoma in a llama (Lama glama).

A 2-year-old female llama (Lama glama), from a private zoological park, with anorexia, ataxia, dyspnea, ascites, and emaciation, was necropsied. Gross inspection, and cytological, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. A firm, white, multinodular mass, 25 cm in diameter was found in the liver parenchyma. Similar nodules up to 3 cm were found in lymph nodes, lung, diaphragm, and peritoneum. Histologically, the affected organs were replaced by an infiltrative growth of undifferentiated neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for pancytokeratin (panCK), CK20, and CK19, and negative for thyroid transcription factor 1, CK7, and carcinoembryonic antigen. A diagnosis of poorly differentiated metastatic cholangiocarcinoma was made.