Functional asymmetry has been reported in sympathetic ganglia. Although there are few studies reporting on body side-related morphoquantitative changes in sympathetic ganglion neurons, none of them have used design-based stereological methods to address this issue during post-natal development. We therefore aimed at detecting possible asymmetry-related effects on the quantitative structure of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) from pacas during ageing, using very precise design-based stereological methods. Forty (twenty left and twenty right) SCG from twenty male pacas were studied at four different ages, i.e. newborn, young, adult and aged animals. By using design-based stereological methods the total volume of ganglion and the total number of mononucleate and binucleate neurons were estimated. Furthermore, the mean perikaryal volume of mononucleate and binucleate neurons was estimated, using the vertical nucleator. The main findings of this study were: (1) the right SCG from aged pacas has more mononucleate and binucleate neurons than the left SCG in all other combinations of body side and animal age, showing the effect of the interaction between asymmetry (right side) and animal age, and (2) right SCG neurons (mono and binucleate) are bigger than the left SCG neurons (mono and binucleate), irrespective of the animal age. This shows, therefore, the exclusive effect of asymmetry (right side). At the time of writing there is still no conclusive explanation for some SCG quantitative changes exclusively assigned to asymmetry (right side) and those assigned to the interaction between asymmetry (right side) and senescence in pacas. We therefore suggest that forthcoming studies should focus on the functional consequences of SCG structural asymmetry during post-natal development. Another interesting investigation would be to examine the interaction between ganglia and their innervation targets using anterograde and retrograde neurotracers. Would differences in the size of target organs explain ganglia structural asymmetry?

In this study the main question investigated was the number and size of both binucleate and mononucleate superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons and, whether post-natal development would affect these parameters. Twenty left SCGs from 20 male pacas were used. Four different ages were investigated, that is newborn (4 days), young (45 days), adult (2 years), and aged animals (7 years). By using design-based stereological methods, that is the Cavalieri principle and a physical disector combined with serial sectioning, the total volume of ganglion and total number of mononucleate and binucleate neurons were estimated. Furthermore, the mean perikaryal (somal) volume of mononucleate and binucleate neurons was estimated using the vertical nucleator. The main findings of this study were a 154% increase in the SCG volume, a 95% increase in the total number of mononucleate SCG neurons and a 50% increase in the total volume of SCG neurons. In conclusion, apart from neuron number, different adaptive mechanisms may coexist in the autonomic nervous system to guarantee a functional homeostasis during ageing, which is not always associated with neuron losses. Anat Rec, 292:966-975, 2009. V V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We describe the morphological organization of the deer brachial plexus in order to supply data to veterinary neuroclinics and anaesthesiology. The deer (Mazama gouazoubira) brachial plexus is composed of four roots: three cervical (C6, C7 and C8) and one thoracic (T1). Within each sex group, no variations are observed between the left and the right brachial plexus, though sex-related differences are seen especially in its origin. The origin of axillary and radial nerves was: C6, C7, C8 and T1 in males and C8-T1 (radial nerve) and C7, C8 and T1 (axillary nerve) in females; musculocutaneous nerve was: C6-C7 (males) and C8-T1 (females); median and ulnar nerves was: C8-T1 (males) and T1 (females); long thoracic nerve was: C7 (males) and T1 (females); lateral thoracic nerve was: C6, C7, C8 and T1 (males) and T1 (females); thoracodorsal nerve was: C6, C7, C8 and T1 (males) and C8-T1 (females); suprascapular nerve was: C6-C7 (males) and C6 (females) and subscapular nerve was: C6-C7 (males) and C7 (females). This study suggests that in male deer the origin of the brachial plexus is more cranial than in females and the origin of the brachial plexus is slightly more complex in males, i.e. there is an additional number of roots (from one to three). This sexual dimorphism may be related to specific biomechanical functions of the thoracic limb and electrophysiological studies may be needed to shed light on this morphological feature.

Mast cell tumors represent the most common malignant skin tumor in the dog. This review outlines the incidence, etiology and clinical signs of mast cell tumors. Diagnostic tests, staging and treatments are also discussed.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: Analisar prospectivamente a eficácia da correlação entre parâmetros clínicos, histológicos, e marcadores de proliferação celular buscando melhores indicadores de prognóstico em casos de mastocitoma canino; Testar o uso de nova ferramenta diagnóstica e prognóstica para mastocitomas caninos: a termografia. Para isso, um total de 20 cães com diagnóstico citológico e histopatológico de mastocitoma tiveram suas formações excisadas e foram utilizados para estudo clínico e imunohistoquímico e dentre estes, 15 também para estudo termográfico. As avaliações imunohistoquímicas incluíram quantificação de AgNORs, PCNA, VEGF, localização de KIT. Os estudos termográficos incluíram análise e correlação das temperaturas no ponto central da formação (SpT), e na área da formação (AT) e em ponto de pele sadia (SpNT) e área equivalente, em pele sadia (ANT). Estatisticamente pode-se demonstrar uma correlação positiva significativa entre a classificação proposta determinada pela presença dos fatores prognósticos e o estadiamento proposto pela WHO. Não foi observada correlação estatística entre tempo livre de doença (óbito, novas formações, recidiva ou metástase) e o estadiamento ou fatores prognósticos. 95% (19/20) dos cães teve suas formações classificadas como Grau II e 5% (1/20) Grau I, segundo a classificação histológica de Patnaik (1984). Todos os cães tiveram suas formações classificadas como Baixo Grau, de acordo com a classificação proposta por Kiupell (2011). 5,6% (1/18) dos animais foi considerada padrão KIT-I, 44,4% (8/18) padrão KIT-II e 50% (9/18) padrão KIT-III. Não foi observada correlação estatística entre o padrão KIT e tempo livre de doença ou graduação histológica. Apesar de não significativo estatisticamente, foi notado menor tempo de sobrevida livre de doença nos animais com PCNA e AgNOR acima das medianas (p =0,089 e p = 0,080, respectivamente).O VEGF foi o único marcador a demonstrar relação significativa com o tempo livre de doença (p = 0,004). As análises termográficas indicaram média de temperatura do SpT de 33,18ºC, média de temperatura do SpNT de 33,39ºC, temperatura média de AT de 33,27ºC e temperatura média de ANT de 33,95ºC. A diferença entre os pontos mensurados foi em média-0,21ºC (variando entre-5,60ºC e +4,4ºC). A diferença entre os pontos mensurados foi em média-0,21ºC (variando entre-5,60ºC e +4,4ºC). Esta diferença foi negativa em 7/15 casos (47%)formações mais frias que a pele distante; e positiva em 8/15 casos (53%)formações mais quentes que a pele distante. Não foi possível correlacionar estatisticamente essas alterações de temperatura com a presença dos marcadores estudados, mas as análises estatísticas demonstram que a termografia na região tumoral é estatisticamente diferente da região não tumoral. Palavras-chave: Mastocitoma canino. Fatores prognósticos. Marcadores de proliferação. Avaliação histopatológica. Termografia. Imagens infravermelhas.