The greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) demonstrated numerous dermal architectural peculiarities hitherto unreported. This investigation assessed and evaluated certain histologic features of skin samples from the fore and hind limbs, the neck, head, proximal to the ear and oro-nasal regions for follicular evaluations and micro anatomic assessments in the adult species. Twenty wild taken animals of equal gender distribution were used for histologic assessments of structural elements and histo-morphometric evaluations. Hair follicular density, size, distribution and orientations as well as sexual dimorphisms observed in the body regions studied with Motic Image Plus software analysis were also reported. Statistical analysis revealed sexual dimorphism in this feature as females demonstrated significantly higher (P < .05) follicular density and epidermal thickness at about twice the recorded values for males at similar sites evaluated, but half (P < .05) of follicular diameter of values of males. Mean follicular density for oro-nasal area, head, neck, fore and hind limbs were 50 ± 3.55 and 70 ± 3.34n/µm2, 16.24 ± 3.02 and 12 ± 4.00, 8.00 ± 2.68 and 83.66 ± 4.08, 8.02 ± 4.00 and 3.23 ± 3.85, 4.32 ± 3.02 and 2.05 ± 2.04 for females and males respectively. Follicular area decreased proportionally with density increase but it was inversely proportional with epidermal thickness in all evaluated regions. This investigation suggests that the peculiarities observed in dermal structures adapt this species to environmental forces, defense and self-preservation including thermoregulation, foraging and predator evasion, whereas histo-morphometric evaluation result suggests that thermoregulation and other skin sensory modalities may differ between genders in the greater cane rat.

A wound is a disruption to the anatomic structure and the functional continuity of living tissues and wound healing is a survival mechanism and represents an attempt to maintain the normal structure and function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the healing properties of methanol extract of Tetracapidium conophorum leaf on epidermal wound in West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Eight adult West African Dwarf (12 to 15 kg) goats grouped into control and experimental of four animals each were used. Epidermal wounds were created on the trunk of all the goats using a square stencil of dimension 1 cm by 1 cm after shaving. Each wound was measured (in centimetre 2 ) daily using the length of the mid-horizontal and mid-vertical sides of the wound with the aid of a Vernier caliper. Epidermal skin biopsies were taken also on days 0, 5, 10 and 20 for histology. The study demonstrated that wound contraction was much faster in treated groups compared with the control group indicating the wound healing properties of T. conophorum leaf extract. The quantification of macrophages and neutrophils in the control animals (88 ± 0.4, 172 ± 4.8) were significantly higher than in the treated animals (40 ± 0.7*, 48 ± 2.8*). Lymphocytes and fibroblast were significantly higher in the control animals (68 ± 0.5, 24 ± 0.41) than the treated animals (36 ± 0.7*, 12 ± 1.12*). The histopathological examination showed observable granulation tissue on day 20 in the treated group while no granulation tissue in the control group. The quantification results revealed an increased fibroblast, neutrophil in the treated group as compared to untreated group which indicated healing. The extract of the leaf showed remarkable wound healing activity and it may be used for treating various types of wounds and injuries in animals and humans.

Skin is the largest organ in the body of man and animal where interdigitation of the dermal papillae with epidermal pegs enhances structural stability of the skin especially where frequent pressure is applied. Cane rats are robust rodents with stocky bodies. They are only found in Africa and only a single species known as Thryonomys has been found to exist. This work was designed to establish the nature of the interdigitating structural disposition of the epidermal-dermal interface in T. swinderianus (Greater cane rat) which may account for the fragility and easy tear of their skin. A total of twenty adult male greater cane rats were used. Three samples sized 1cm to 2cm were taken from each of 14 different body sites for histological evaluation for rete pegs. These pegs were generally few in six regions with the following average per light microscopic field: head (5.5±3.7), neck (1.0±1.7), forelimb (5.6±3.7), trunk (4.3±4.2), tail (1.0±1.7) and the hindlimb (6.3±5.3). The neck and the tail parts of the body have the least concentration of this structure compared to other regions evaluated. This few in number of rete pegs may account for the fragility of the skin which makes it difficult to restrain or handle without damage during research work procedures and management during domestication. Keywords: Epidermal pegs, Fragility, Histology, Peculiar, Thryonomys

The ultra-deep offshore, eastern Niger Delta is marked by rapid, cyclic deposition of thick units of siliciclastic sediments ranging from deep marine to non-marine environments, deposited into rapidly subsiding sub-basins occurring along the slope of the continental margin. This rapid deposition resulted in thick third-order sequences and systems tracts. Patterns of deposition were analysed from seismic reflection configuration and well-log patterns. Lithofacies patterns critical for systems tract recognition were interpreted from well logs and tied to seismic sections where possible. Sediment accumulation plots were constructed and employed to interpret the location of stratigraphic condensation, key surfaces, diffuse boundaries between systems tracts and evaluate the significance of condensed sections. The origin of these condensed sections is caused by major allocyclic changes associated with transgression and shifting of the deltaic depocenter that fed the area. The regional change in condensation through time was interpreted as reflecting avulsion of the shallow marine sediment source. The compilation of sediment accumulation plots also showed a major increase in sedimentation approximately 2.4 Ma; caused by the influx of the prograding shallow marine sediments. Wells located in distal regions in this field are more condensed [steeper slope] than proximal locations. The resulting analyses of this study showed that the basin-floor fan has the highest rate of deposition and could be identified as a gentle slope in the line of sediment accumulation. In the distal regions of the field, TST's are characterized by sediment starvation because most of the sediments are trapped in the proximal areas. The maximum flooding surfaces [MFS's] were recorded in deep water as condensed sections. Secondary condensed sections were delineated and interpreted to have deposited above the top basin-floor fan surface [tbfs] and top slope fan surface [tsfs]. In addition to traditional first downhole occurrence biostratigraphy, the database also contains information on nannofossil abundance. The sands encountered in the reservoirs are correlatable indicating a relatively longer period of depositional cycle.