Comparative Anatomical Study of the Pelvic Limb Skeleton in the Chinchilla (C. Lanigera) and in the Domestic Rabbit (O. Cuniculus)

The current growing trend of Chinchilla husbandry for pets creates a demand for generating a detailed anatomic data base of this species. Taking into account the existing initiatives of osteology and osteometry research our study aimed to compare the pelvic limb skeleton of the Chinchilla to that of the Domestic Rabbit, in order to highlight the differences.10 pelvic limb skeletons of adult Chinchillas were compared to 10 Domestic Rabbit pelvic limbs skeletons belonging to our ossuary. Examination underlined several particularities: the wing of the chinchilla’s ilium is narrower than that of the rabbit’s, the gluteal crest is very prominent and continues on the lateral side of the neck of ilium, ending in a tubercle, caudally to the acetabulum. The femur misses the third trochanter present in rabbits. The tibia and the fibula of the Chinchilla are not fused in the distal two thirds of the diaphysis. The Chinchilla’s fibula is a complete bone, having the same length as the tibia, ending by a rounded lateral malleolus. The similitude to the Rabbit is that the two bones present a visible but narrow proximal interosseous space. Both species present a similar autopodium, although the fifth toe is shorter in Chinchillas, composed of two phalanges. In conclusion, the coxal, the femur, the tibia and fibula of the Chinchilla present several distinct elements when compared to Domestic Rabbits, which provide details useful for clinical examination and further articular and muscular research in this species

Continous Nerve Block of the Thoracic Limb in Horses

Analgesia is of great importance in surgical trauma occurring in horses. In the present, longterm epidural analgesia has become a routine method for trauma of the hind limb, but, in the case of thethoracic limb there is no regular similar technique. Continuous nerve block is a method using a localcontinuous perfusion with anesthetics administered through a catheter placed along the direction ofperipheral nerves and it represents a new analgesia technique. This method is frequently used in humanmedicine to reduce post-surgical pain in body extremities. Continuous nerve block doesn’t affect thegeneral state of health of equines, and through the induction of analgesia it encourages healing conditions.The present study aims to develop a treatment method usable on tranquilized standing horses, by placing acatheter along the palmar nerves of the thoracic limb. We have studied the main anatomical points forplacing the catheter along the peripheral nerves of the thoracic limb and a detailed protocol has beenestablished for local anesthetics used in continuous nerve blocks

Comparative Anatomical Study of the Thoracic Limb Skeleton in the Chinchilla (C. Lanigera) and in the Domestic Rabbit (O. Cuniculus)

Chinchillas, currently growing in popularity as pets, lack detailed anatomical descriptions of their skeleton. The advanced anatomic knowledge of Domestic Rabbits offers a good reference point. Thus, we performed a detailed assessment of the Chinchilla’s thoracic limb skeleton features, compared to the Rabbit’s, in order to provide basic data for clinicians and researchers in the orthopedic field. 10 thoracic limb skeletons of Chinchillas and Domestic Rabbit, respectively, were examined and compared. The Chinchilla’s thoracic girdle notably includes a clavicle, which is absent in Rabbits. Its scapula presents a similar frame, but a tighter supraspinous/infraspinous fossa ratio (1:1) and a shorter metacromion. The distal epiphysis of the humerus distinctly presents only one condyle in the Chinchilla. Its ulna and radius are equally well developed. The autopodium of both species is similar in shape and bone composition, counting five digits. In conclusion, although thoracic limb skeleton similarities between the Chinchilla and of the Domestic Rabbit suggest that clinicians can use the latter as reference species when confronted with orthopedic pathology of the former, the underlined differences in the thoracic girdle and humerus between the two species must be taken in consideration when imaging diagnostic and treatments of these bones are required

Anatomical Study of the Cerebral Hemispheres in the Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Taking into consideration the growing importance of this species in the field of neurology research, we have aimed to provide extensive data on the gross morphology of the Chinchilla lanigera’s cerebral hemispheres. The data was compared to the general features of the rodent brain extracted from literature. Five bodies of Chinchilla lanigera, three females and two males, all adults were used in order to obtain cerebral samples. Each segment of the cerebral hemispheres was examined macroscopically, both intact and on seriate sections, in order to register it external features, as well as its internal structure. The examination was performed on both fresh samples and after treating them with a buffered solution of formaldehyde. Gross measurements were also performed, but without the intent of statistical processing. The cerebral hemispheres of the Chinchilla are lissencephalic, and decrease in girth in the oral direction, presenting each a triangular surface. The internal optostriate bodies are well developed and clearly differentiated form the cortex, but the individual cerebral nuclei are hard to distinguish macroscopically, visible as a common gray mass. The most prominent inter-hemispherical segment is the corpus callosum, easily underlined by longitudinal sections of the cerebrum, subjacent of the cortex. We have also been able to identify the main ventricular cavities of the cerebrum: the first and second ventricles. The cerebral hemispheres of the Chinchilla retain the main characteristics of the rodent brain. All the common segments were identified and found to closely resemble either the rabbit, or the rat brain, in various proportions

Anatomical Studies Concerning the Skeleton of the Head in the Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

The alligator has not been studied in our country, so studies referring to this species are scarce in Romania. This species is considered an exotic species here and can be found only in zoological gardens. Nevertheless, the anatomical study of this species can bring contributions to several interdisciplinary fields, having in mind the prehistoric origin of this animal. The present study tries to describe the bones that form the skeleton of the head and the anatomical relations among these bones. The study has been performed in the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Two skulls originating from alligator individuals were processed by wet maceration procedure, with a procedure lasting 3 complete days at 35 C. The bones obtained after the macerative process were assembled again, according to their anatomical position after the careful study and description. The alligator cranium presents a higher number of bones than the mammalian skull (ex. quadrate bone, exoccipital bone, supraoccipital bone, surangular bone, etc.). The mandible is composed of five bones: dentary, articular, angular, surangular and splenial. The articulation between the cranium and the mandible is complex, involving the quadrate and the quadratojugal bones of the previous and the angular bone of the latter. The bones have a generally porous aspect, closer to avian osseous tissue, rather than the mammal one. The alligator cranium presents an increased number of bones compared to the mammalian standard. It is rather similar to avian bones, according to its macroscopic structure

Representation by Percentage of the Tunicae of the Large Arteries in Chinchillas

Chinchilla, a small sized rodent, is taxonomically placed in the Mamalia class, Theria subclass, Eutheria clade, Rodentia order, Hystricomorpha suborder, Chinchilidae family, Chinchilla species. In the wild, it occupies a territory covering the states of Chile, Peru and Argentina, as well as the south region of Bolivia. The biologic material for out study consisted of 5 Chinchilla specimens processed to obtain histological samples. The staining protocol has very well underlined the trilamelar structure of the layers composing the arterial wall. The tunica intima comprises an endothelium, a basement membrane and a subendothelial layer. This tunic outlines the lumen of the arteries. The tunica media is formed by elastic fibers disposed on several circular layers and a certain number of smooth muscle cells in-between them. The external tunic or the tunica adventitia is made up of lax conjunctive tissue.  The ratio between tunics of the arterial wall of the great arteries in Chinchillas changes according to the distance from the heart. While the aorta has a very poorly developed tunica adventitia, this layer represents 50% of the arterial wall in the subclavian and external iliac arteries

Gross and Microscopic Anatomy of the Olfactory Bulbs in the Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Chinchillas are primarily used as laboratory animals in auditory pathways research, it is necessary to acquire detailed neuroanatomical data on other encephalon segments, in order to assess whether this species might also contribute as olfactory pathways experimental models. Thus, our research focused on providing a gross and microscopic description of the chinchilla’s olfactory bulbs. Five chinchilla encephalon samples were harvested from commercially slaughtered young adults. The pairs of olfactory bulb were isolated by dissection, macroscopically examined while still attached, then detached, fixed in buffered formalin, serially cut and stained using a modified Luxol-Cresyl protocol. Gross and microscopic features were assessed and compared to literature descriptions of related species such as the rat and the rabbit. Chinchillas presented large olfactory bulbs with an average maximal diameter of 3 mm each, positioned in two corresponding deep grooves of the cribriform plate, orally to the anterior limit of the cerebral hemispheres. They decreased in girth ventro-aborally towards their base, which was located on the ventral side of the telencephalon. Histologically, they presented a laminar structure: an olfactory nerve layer, a glomerular layer, an external plexiform layer, a mitral cell layer, an internal plexiform layer and a granule cell layer. The proportionally well developed olfactory bulbs and the existence of the accessory olfactory bulbs demonstrates that C. lanigera is a macrosmatic species. The olfactory bulbs in the chinchilla present the gross anatomy and histological outline concurring with literature rodent descriptions, with certain particularities (accessory bulb topography, olfactory ventricle topography, glomerular size and shape)

Comparative study of the internal conformation of the posdiaphragmatic digestive tract in the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and in the cat (Felis catus)

The present study offers a detailed anatomical description of the macroscopical characteristicsof the internal conformation of the postdiaphragmatic digestive tract in the main pet species - the dog andthe cat. After domestication, the two species, while of common philogenetic origins, have evolved withcertain differences from the point of view of feeding habits in the modern era, to omnivore for dogs andstrict carnivore for cats. This fact reflects itself in the pathology of this segment and in therapeuticnecessities. This aspect justifies the need for better anatomical knowledge of the differences between thetwo species in the digestive segment. Having discussed in a previous article the differences between thesespecies in terms of external shape, features and organ topography, we have turned to the innerconformation of the gastrointestinal tract. Our study focused on species characteristics description,without underlining race particularities. The study was carried out in the Comparative AnatomyLaboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, on five dog bodies and 5 cat bodieslacking digestive pathological modifications. The research used usual dissection techniques, followed bythe isolation, the section and the examination of the gastro-intestinal segment in all subjects. Commontraits of carnivorous species displayed overall by the digestive tract aside, the main internal conformationdifferences between dogs and cats were mainly registered in the stomach. In this segment, the cat displaysa uniform gastric mucosa, while the linen varies in the dog. The duodenum of both species has similarmucosa and two duodenal papillae, but the placement and presence of the papillae differ. The largeintestine of dogs and cats has lesser differences, aside from the disposition of the lining folds of the colon

Study Regarding Two Methods of Processing and Perserving Bird Skeletons

Preservation of anatomical specimens and animal products represents a current issue in terms of the need to maintain them for longer periods of time, and in view of certain religious precepts. Scientific progress has allowed the prevention of the decomposition of certain tissues, organs, cadavers, and so on, and this has become a necessity for many areas of biology, medical research in education centers. Currently there are multiple preservation techniques for anatomical preparations used in specialized laboratories, intended to meet certain quality standards, such preserving anatomical characteristics of living tissues, low costs involved in preparation and maintenance and reduced health risks in handling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of maceration and boiling techniques applied to the bird cadavers, from the perspective obtaining a complete skeleton. The research was carried out in the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Each of the experimental techniques was applied to two bird cadavers. The obtained results show that the conservation technique through boiling has a high greater applicability because it does not require special equipment, the costs are reduced, however the risk of bone degradation is high, these being small and fragile. The maceration technique using insects from the Dermestes Maculatus genus, in the larval stage, has the advantages of obtaining a clean skeleton, without residual muscles fragments, this technique being also simple and easy to perform. The drawback of this technique is the prolonged time needed to obtain the desired effect

Anatomical Features of Bones Directly Involved in the Act of Flying in the Homing Pigeon and in the Common Pigeon

This study aims to identify distinct morphological features in the skeleton of both the homing pigeon and the common pigeon. The research comprised in this study is intended to enrich the currently existing general data referring to pigeon anatomy and to underline the differences of the two pigeon varieties, the homing one and the common one, regarding bones and their features and the way in which they influence body size, but also their importance in the act of flying. Our findings support the notion of common origins of the domestic pigeon and the homing pigeon. Through this study we have underlined the way in which distinct environmental conditions have led to the evolution of two pigeon varieties with different adaptations. The homing pigeon has adapted in time to progressively longer flights, due to continuously improving food, hygiene and housing conditions. The common pigeon, on the other side, has adapted to a restrictive environment (scarce food of inferior quality, improvised housing and medical conditions)