Seasonal investigation of the macroscopic and microscopic structure of the sinus interdigitalis in Hamdani crossbred sheep (Ovis aries).

BACKGROUND: The odours of different body parts and structures, such as external genitalia, female urine, ventral tail radix, infraorbital sinus and interdigital sinus, have a strong attractiveness for rams. The sinus interdigitalis is considered an important trail gland for sexual behaviour, as its odour is included in the list of strongly attractive structures for male animals during the breeding season, being important in pheromone production. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the effects of sex and breeding season on the morphological and histological structure of the interdigital gland were investigated in Hamdani crossbred sheep (Ovis aries). METHODS: Sinus interdigitalis glands located on the forelimbs and hind limbs were collected from 10 male and 10 female sheep during both breeding and non-breeding seasons. The gland's position in the forelimbs and hind limbs was determined radiographically. The glands were examined macroscopically, histologically and immunohistochemically in both seasons. RESULTS: In all animals, the topographic location of the gland between the digits was determined to be distal to the phalanx proximalis and at the level of the phalanx media. The mean weight of the gland in male and female animals was 1.07 ± 0.03 and 1.4 ± 0.11 g, respectively. In general, the results of morphometric measurements were higher during the breeding season, and the increase was more pronounced in female animals. In histological examinations, it was determined that both neck and body parts of the tissues consisted of a structure consisting of a connective tissue capsule at the outermost, dermis, epidermis and lumen underneath. Immunohistochemically staining revealed that oestrogen receptors showed positive immunoreactions only in the intracytoplasmic localization of apocrine sweat glands. In terms of morphological, histological and oestrogen receptors, it was thought that the gland may play a role in sexual communication.

Osteometric and topographic measurement of the skull and mandible of Siirt colored Mohair goat with three-dimensional (3D) modeling technique.

Siirt-colored Mohair goat is one of the breeds that contributed significantly to the existence of Mohair goats reared in Turkey. Morphological and morphometric characteristics of the Siirt-colored Mohair goat remained vague owing to a lack of studies. Recent advances in high-tech imaging have replaced conventional two-dimensional anatomical structures with three-dimensional (3D) models. In our study, morphometric features were determined by 3D modeling from computed tomography images obtained from the skull and mandibular bones of Siirt-colored Mohair goats. For this purpose, the skulls and mandibular bones of 20 Siirt-colored Mohair goats (10 females and 10 males) were used. The images were reconstructed with the help of a particular software program. The craniometric data were analyzed in terms of sexual dimorphism, and statistically significant difference was found in the A5, A18, and A31 measurement parameters (P<0.05) and Skull index (P<0.01) parameters. In the mandible measurements, there was a statistically significant difference between the sexes in C5, C10 measurement points (P<0.05), C2, C8, C12, C18, C21 measurement points (P<0.001) and surface area parameter (P<0.01). The morphometric data obtained is a resource in the fields of zoo archaeology, anatomy, forensics, anesthesia, surgery, and treatment.

Treatment of Long Bone Fractures in Calves with Ilizarov External Fixator.

In this study, the advantages and disadvantages of Ilizarov external fixator in the treatment of long bone fractures in calves were investigated. For this purpose, 26 calves of different breeds, ages and genders, having metacarpal (n = 12), metatarsal (n = 5) and antebrachial (n = 9) fractures underwent surgery under general anaesthesia. Frames, which were prepared before surgery in accordance with the radiographic findings, were applied under open reduction in 18 cases, and under closed reduction in eight cases. In the postoperative period, all calves except one started to bear some weigh on the injured limb on the first day, while the remaining calf did the same on the second day. The consolidation started in the first 2 weeks for 24 of the calves and was completed by the day 55. In the two remaining cases, it started in the third week and was completed on day 71 and day 90, respectively.The soft tissue wounds were completely healed in all calves and no complications occurred. In five calves that were not kept in our clinic pin tract infections formed. They were controlled rapidly, and there was no change in the fracture reduction or healing duration.In conclusion, in our study, the Ilizarov external fixator system was applied to long bone fractures in cattle calves, in cases where the fragments were not large enough to apply pins and plates, and which became open and infected after defective bandage practices or unsuitable treatment. Fractures completely healed in all cases, without any complications. These results show that many of the long bone fractures experienced by calves, that were considered for amputation due to the anticipated inability to treat them successfully, could be treated with the use of the Ilizarov system.