William Pérez

Reproductive biology of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus): a review.

The pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) is a South American grazing deer which is in extreme danger of extinction. Very little is known about the biology of the pampas deer. Moreover, most information has not been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and is only available in local publications, theses, etc. Therefore, our aim was to update and summarize the available information regarding the reproductive biology of the pampas deer. Moreover, in most sections, we have also included new, unpublished information. Detailed descriptions are provided of the anatomy of both the female and the male reproductive tract, puberty onset, the oestrous cycle and gestational length. Birthing and the early postpartum period are described, as are maternal behaviour and early fawn development, seasonal distribution of births, seasonal changes in male reproduction and antler cycle, reproductive behaviour, semen collection, and cryopreservation. Finally, an overview is given and future directions of research are proposed.

Observations on the macroscopic anatomy of the intestinal tract and its mesenteric folds in the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus, Linnaeus 1758).

We described the macroscopic anatomy of the intestines and their peritoneal folds of five adult pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), a cervid species considered to ingest a high proportion of grass in its natural diet. The mean (±SD) body weight was 17 (±2) kg. The small intestine and the caecocolon measured 495 (±37) cm and 237 (±24) cm in length, respectively, with an average ratio (small intestine:caecocolon) of 1.9 (±0.1). The ascending colon had two and a half centripetal gyri, a central flexure and two centrifugal gyri. The spiral ansa, which was similar to an ellipse, was fixed to the whole left face of the mesenterium. Apart from the peritoneal folds described in the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria, three additional, hitherto not described folds were found: a fold that fixed the caecum to the proximal ansa of the ascending colon, one that joined the terminal part of the proximal ansa to the last centrifugal gyrus of the spiral ansa of the ascending colon, and one that linked the ascending duodenum to the proximal ansa of the ascending colon. When compared with published data from other cervids of different feeding niches, it appears that, among cervids, the ratio of small intestine to the caecocolon length does not reflect the natural diet.

Anatomical and scanning electron microscopic investigations of the tongue and laryngeal entrance in the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus, cretzschmar, 1829)

This research aimed to examine the morphological features of the tongue and laryngeal entrance of long‐legged buzzard by macroscopic and scanning electron microscopic methods. Two adult buzzards were used as material. The tongue was fairly elongated and terminated in oval shovel‐like apex. Scale‐like projections were localized on the apex and body of tongue. Both lateral sides of lingual body were contained considerably long thread‐like projections. Many orifices of lingual posterior salivary glands were discerned among scale‐like projections in median sulcus of the lingual body. Papillary crest of sharp conical papilla were observed on the between the body and root of the tongue. No conical papillae or other projections were existent on the root of the tongue, but numerous orifices of posterior salivary gland ducts were detected. In addition, orifices of anterior salivary gland ducts were present on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the lingual body. Numerous conical papillae were observed on the caudal region of glottis and no conical papillae or any similar projection which were bordered the glottic fissure was noted. Anatomy of these organs in the long‐legged buzzard and white tailed eagle which are the member of the same family, Accipitridae, revealed very high similarity. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:1245–1252, 2012.

Effects of pre-natal glucocorticoids on testicular development in sheep

We tested the hypothesis that acute pre‐natal exposure to high levels of synthetic glucocorticoid (betamethasone) would alter fetal testicular development through actions on gonadal glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Pregnant Merino ewes bearing singleton male fetuses (n = 24) were allocated randomly among four equal groups to be injected intramuscularly with saline or betamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) either on day 109 of gestation or on both day 109 and day 116 of gestation. Fetal testes were collected at post‐mortem, 5 days after each treatment. The volume of interstitial tissue and the volume, length and diameter of the sex cords were measured, and Sertoli cells and gonocytes were counted. For cord volume and interstitial tissue volume, control testes demonstrated maturational changes as fetal age advanced from 109 to 116 days of gestation. For that period, the single injection of betamethasone significantly reduced Leydig cell proliferation (P < 0.05), but had no effect on Sertoli cell numbers. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize GR and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in testicular cells. GR immunoexpression in Leydig cells was higher in fetuses exposed to betamethasone at 109 days of gestation than in control fetuses. Sertoli cells showed low levels of GR. It was concluded that, during mid‐gestation, a brief period of glucocorticoid treatment could affect testicular development in male sheep fetuses. The mechanism probably involves direct effects on Leydig cells, as these cells express extra‐GR in response to the treatment. Sertoli cells seem to produce less GR than Leydig cells, perhaps explaining their lack of response to betamethasone. These outcomes may have important implications for future fertility in male offspring.

Gross anatomy of the male genital organs of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus, Linnaeus 1758)

To describe the macroscopic anatomy of the genital organs of the male pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), organs from ten animals found dead in a captive breeding station were dissected. The unpigmented scrotum was located in the inguinal region near the body, and was covered by the thighs. In the investments of the testicles the dartos tunic was greatly developed. The cremaster muscle was located dorsocaudal to the testicle, and was divided caudally into three bundles of fibers. The right testicle was significantly heavier than the left, and there was a positive relationship between body weight and the weight of both testicles. The tail of the epididymis, ventrally located, had a caudal portion attached to the caudal extremity of the testicles by the proper ligament of the testicles, and a portion elongated free caudally located. The deferent duct was located caudomedially to the corresponding testicle. The accessory genital glands were the ampullary glands, vesicular glands, and a small pars disseminata of the prostate. The penis was fibroelastic, without sigmoid flexure, with a thick albuginea. The retractor penis muscle was very long, and ended in the distal part of the penis near the rudimentary glans. The general disposition of the male genital organs of the pampas deer were similar to that of other ruminants, with some differences, such as size and location of the testicles, the absence of the sigmoid flexure of the penis, and fewer accessory genital glands.

Gross Anatomy of the Intestine in the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

We describe the macroscopic anatomy of the intestine of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). The small intestine was divided into duodenum, jejunum and ileum as usual. The caecum was attached to the ileum by a long ileocaecal fold, and to the proximal ansa of the ascending colon by a caecocolic fold. The ascending colon was the most developed portion of the gross intestine and had the most complex arrangement with three ansae: the proximal ansa, the spiral ansa and the distal ansa. The proximal ansa completely encircled the caecum, describing a 360° gyrus, and represented the widest portion of the intestine. The spiral ansa was formed by three and a half centripetal gyri, a central flexure and three centrifugal gyri. The last centrifugal gyrus left the spiral and described nine flexures of different form and direction over the left side of the mesentery. The two portions that formed each of these flexures ran parallel to each other. The last part of this gyrus ran parallel to the jejunum. When compared with domestic cattle, giraffe had a comparatively short small intestine and a comparatively long large intestine, with a resulting small ratio of small:large intestine. Reasons are presented why this should be considered a peculiarity of cattle‐like ruminants rather than a different representative of a browser–grazer dichotomy in general.

Anatomical and Scanning Electron Microscopic Characteristics of the Tongue in the Pampas Deer (Cervidae: Ozotoceros bezoarticus, Linnaeus 1758)

This study represents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the pampas deer and compares the different information on the morphology of the other ruminant species available in the literature. In this study, the tongues of four adult and one fetal deer were used. The tongue was elongated with an oval or rounded apex. The filiform papillae on the lingual apex were smaller than the ones on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the lingual body. Two very thin secondary papillary projections were found to emerge from the bilateral sides of some filiform papillae. Spherical fungiform papillae were randomly distributed among filiform papillae on dorsal surface of the lingual body and ventral surface of the apex. More developed conical papillae were observed in the caudal half of the lingual torus, whereas the rostral half of the torus had smaller conical papillae. Each conical papilla included shallow longitudinal groove on its anterior surface and some conical papillae on the lingual torus had bifid sharp apices. On the caudal portion of the torus, we also observed a few fungiform papillae, which were larger than those located on the lingual body. There were no lenticular papillae on the lingual torus, and five to nine round or oval circumvallate papillae were situated on each caudolateral side of the lingual torus. Morphological features of the tongue in the pampas deer were more similar to wild ruminant species than they were to domestic species. Microsc. Res. Tech., 76:1025–1034, 2013.

Peritoneal Folds of the Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The anatomy of the rabbit is not well known and there is no consensus on the anatomical nomenclature for this species. The objective of this study was to give a complementary description of the peritoneal folds in order to improve the existing knowledge on this species. Eighteen adult rabbits were studied. Ten animals were dissected unfixed and the remaining eight after fixation in formalin. The hepatic ligaments were similar to those of the dog. The transverse mesocolon was absent. The entry to the caudal recess of the omental sac was relatively smaller than that in other domestic species. We consistently found an omental foramen. An amount of fat tissue was almost always found in the proximal mesorchium. The vaginal process was inconstant.

Gross Anatomy of the Female Genital Organs of the Pampas Deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus, Linnaeus 1758)

To describe the macroscopic anatomy of the genital organs of the female pampas deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus), organs from animals dead in a captive breeding station were dissected. A total of twenty females, 17 adults and 10 pre‐puberal approximately 1 year old were studied by gross dissection. The ovaries of adult females without corpora lutea weighed 0.22 ± 0.02 g on the right and 0.20 ± 0.01 g on the left and accounted for 0.03 ± 0.01% of body weight. All corpora lutea (n = 6) were found in the right ovary, but in cases where there was no corpus luteum present, the right ovary tended to be heavier than the left (P = 0.1). The absence of ovarian bursa, intercornual ligament and suburethral diverticle is peculiar to this deer species. Only 6 convex caruncles were found in the uterine horns, which differ from the more of 100 present in domestic ruminants. Four regular folds that were observed in the cervix of the uterus should not be an obstacle to the passage of a transcervical catheter, allowing intrauterine artificial insemination. The close relationship between the ovarian artery and vein stood up could be associated with the passage of the uterine luteolytic factor from the vein to the ovarian artery, avoiding its systemic way, as happens in domestic ruminants. While the plan of organization was similar, there are some differences with the descriptions of other ruminants. Our results may be very useful as it provides with information that may be considered for the development of female reproductive biotechnologies.

Gross heart anatomy of Arctocephalus australis (Zimmerman, 1783)

Little research has been carried out on the gross visceral anatomy of the Otariidae, and the anatomical information for the southern fur seals, Arctocephalus spp., is scant. The aim of the present study was to describe the external and internal conformation, and the sanguineous irrigation of the heart of Arctocephalus australis. Twelve hearts of Arctocephalus australis were studied by simple dissection. In the right ventricle the trabeculae carneae were well developed and there were three or more papillary muscles. In the left ventricle there were two papillary muscles, subatrialis and subauricularis, attached to the parietal wall. There was also a great development of trabeculae carneae which occupied almost all of the ventricle, from the left atrioventricular valve up to the proximities of the expulsion route. A large quantity of muscular strands were found extending themselves between the trabeculae carneae, becoming more dense and forming a network when near the apex. The distribution of the branches of the coronary arteries was highly variable and no heart was similar to another one in this sense. In the majority of the hearts the subsinosal interventricular branch proceeded from the right coronary artery. It is concluded that there were many differences between the heart of the Arctocephalus australis and the heart of the domestic dog, contrary to what has been suggested for other genera of Otariidae.