Ayhan Düzler

Effects of intraperitoneal administration of the phenytoin on the skeletal system of rat fetus

This study was conducted on determining the effects of phenytoin on the skeletal system of the fetuses of 13 Wistar Albino rats. The female rats were divided into two groups after the vaginal smear test: the group 1 (control group) included 6 individuals, whereas the group 2 (phenytoin group) comprised 7 animals. A dose of 25mg/kg/day phenytoin was administered intraperitoneally to pregnant rats on the 8th-10th days of pregnancy and fetuses were obtained by C-section on the 20th day. A number of 82 fetuses were observed by double staining technique. Their lengths and weights were measured, revealing the statistically significant differences between the two groups (p<0.001). The lengths of the fetuses in the group 2 were determined as to be 14% shorter and the weights 13% lower compared to those in the group 1. Similarly, number of the fetuses obtained in one gestation decreased 9% in the group 2. Ossification of the skull bones in the fetuses of the group 2 was observed eminently to be deteriorated through using dissection microscope and inspection. Costal separation anomaly was observed in the 10 fetuses of the group 2. The separated-laterally located costal components were not attached to the costal arch. Shape malformations in the last two ribs and wide angularity, particularly in the last six ribs, were also determined. This study has documented that intraperitoneal usage of the pheytoin during pregnancy may cause to different skeletal malformations, even with lower doses, in rat fetuses.

The morphology of the cervico-thoracic sympathetic system in donkeys (Equus asinus L.).

Five adult donkeys of both sexes, used in applied anatomy classes, and perfused with formalin for teaching purposes, constituted the study material. Ganglion cervicale caudale of the examined materials has observed to exhibit individually variable situation as to extend on the left side of the median line, at the alignment of the first and second intercostal spaces and on the right side between the level of the first and third costa. The ganglion extended more caudally on the right side of median line. The lateral surface of the ganglion was determined to be covered with the m. scalenus medius. On the both sides of the median plane, the ganglion cervicale caudale was seen to be situated on the lateral surface of the m. longus colli. On the left side, the ganglion overlapped the oesophagus in two cadavers and on the right side it was situated within a groove between the m. longus colli and trachea in three cadavers. The rami communicantes received by the ganglion cervicale caudale originated from the eighth cervical and first thoracic spinal segments. The ganglion cervicale caudale was formed by the coalescence of the last cervical and first three thoracic sympathetic ganglia. The ganglion cervicale caudale gave off branches that formed the rami communicantes, plexus cardiacus, n. vertebralis and ansa subclavia. One branch extended from the ganglion to the plexus brachialis. in one specimen, two sympathetic–parasympathetic communicating branches were observed to extend from the ansa subclavia and near by the origin of the truncus sympathicus to the n. vagus. In one of the donkeys examined, a branch originating from the ganglion cervicale caudale on the left side of the median plane was determined to end on the ligamentum arteriosum. A microscopic ganglion structure suggesting the existence of the ganglion cervicale medium was determined in a donkey.

The origin and course of the greater, lesser and least thoracic splanchnic nerves in New Zealand rabbits.

In this study, the origin and course of the greater, lesser and least splanchnic nerves was investigated in 12 adult New Zealand rabbits with regard to sex and the side of the body. There were no significant differences between the female and male rabbits. The greater and lesser splanchnic nerves were present in all the cadavers examined. However, the least splanchnic nerve was found on the right side in 50% of the cadavers (nos. 2, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 12), and on the left side in 75% (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12). With regard to the origin and pattern of the greater, lesser and least splanchnic nerves, there were significant differences between the right and left sides of the body even in the same rabbit. No significant difference was observed between sexes.

Anatomy of the Thoracic Splanchnic Nerves in Pigs

The anatomical features of the autonomous nerves, including the greater, lesser and least splanchnic nerves, were examined in 4 female and 4 male adult pigs (Sus scrofa). The origin and course of these nerves were examined with regard to sex and the side of the body. The greater splanchnic nerve was present in all of the animals included in the study, whereas the lesser splanchnic nerve was present at a rate of 87.5% on the right side and 75% on the left side of the median plane. On the other hand, the least splanchnic nerve was present on the right side at a rate of 62.5% and on the left side at a rate of 37.5%. The greater, lesser and least splanchnic nerves on the right side of the median plane were determined to originate from a more cranial location. Furthermore, these nerves were observed to be longer and larger on the right side in comparison with the left side. Evaluation of the findings revealed no significant difference between both sides of the median plane with regard to the origin, course and dimensions of these nerves. Similarly, no significant difference was detected between sexes.

Ramification of the celiac artery in the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus).

The purpose of this study was a description of the species-specific characteristics of the celiac artery in greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus). In the greater flamingos examined in this study, it was observed that the celiac artery (a. celiaca) originated from the right ventrolateral surface of the descending aorta (aorta descendens) at the level of the fourth thoracic intervertebral junction. The celiac artery was observed to give off branches to the oesophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, spleen, liver, gall bladder, duodenum, pancreas, jejunum, ileum and caecum. After giving off the dorsal proventricular artery (a. proventricularis dorsalis) and oesophageal artery (ramus esophagealis), the celiac artery bifurcated into two main branches. It was determined that the right branch of the celiac artery (ramus dexter) gave off either two or four splenic arteries (aa. splenicae), as well as the right hepatic artery (a. hepatica dextra), duodenojejunal artery (a. duodenojejunalis), right dorsal gastric artery (a. gastrica dextra dorsalis), right ventral gastric artery (a. gastrica dextra ventralis) and pancreaticoduodenal artery (a. pancreaticoduodenalis). The ventral proventricular artery (a. proventricularis ventralis), left hepatic artery (a. hepatica sinistra), the arterial branches to the saccus cranialis (rami saccicraniales) and the left gastric artery (a. gastrica sinistra) arose from the left branch of the celiac artery (ramus sinister).