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Biomedical subjects

P Simoens

Publications and source records attributed to P Simoens.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Dental wear in horses in relation to the microhardness of enamel and dentine.

The microhardness of enamel, primary dentine and secondary dentine was determined in the incisor teeth of 39 horses of three different breeds, trotter horses, Belgian draft horses and Arab horses. Using a microhardness tester fitted with a Knoop diamond indenter, the overall Knoop Hardness Number was determined for each tissue, and the influence of breed and age on the hardness were evaluated. Enamel and secondary dentine were significantly harder in Arab horses than in trotters and Belgian draft horses, but there were no significant differences between draft horses and trotter horses in the hardness of their enamel and dentine.

Age Factors↗

Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptors in the canine uterus and their relation to sex steroid hormone levels.

Cyclic changes in estrogen receptor expression in the uterine tissue of 60 female dogs were evaluated, using an immunohistochemical technique on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. The expression of estrogen receptors in the uterine horns, body and cervix was quantified by means of an immunohistochemical score. A negative correlation was found between staining scores in the uterine horns and serum progesterone levels. Generally, staining scores in the uterine horns were highest during proestrus, declined during estrus and were lowest during early metestrus. During anestrus high staining scores for estrogen receptors were observed, indicating sensitivity for estrogens in a sexual quiescence stage. Compared with the uterine horns, high staining scores were found in the uterine body and cervix during estrus and metestrus. No positive staining for estrogen receptors was detected in 1 pregnant uterus. Fluctuations in estrogen receptors were more pronounced in endometrial stroma cells than in epithelial cells of the uterine horns. The importance of stromal cells in the sexual cyclicity of the canine uterus should not be underestimated when studying uterine endocrinology and pathology.

Animals↗

Age determination in mini-Shetland ponies and donkeys.

The accuracy of ageing mini-Shetland ponies and donkeys was assessed by correlating the appearance of specific dental features with the known ages of 106 mini-Shetland ponies and 63 donkeys. The ages of the animals ranged between 2 days and 26 years. In both species the eruption of the deciduous and permanent incisors occurred later than in horses. On the other hand, the appearance of the dental stars on the permanent incisors of mini-Shetlands and donkeys was seen at a younger age than in horses. As in most horse breeds, the disappearance of the cups, the clinical crown lengths, the presence of hooks on the upper corner and the presence of a Galvayne's groove are unreliable features for dental age determination in the pony and the donkey. Specific dental characteristics of both the mini-Shetland pony and the donkey are discussed.

Age Determination by Teeth↗

Age-related morphometry of equine incisors.

In the present study the age-related morphological characteristics of 948 equine incisors were investigated. After extraction, total incisival length and root length were measured at the vestibular side of the teeth. Equine incisors reach their maximal length 2-3 years after eruption. Notwithstanding severe occlusal wear, this maximal length is maintained during most of the horses' life due to prolonged root formation. Root formation, at the rate of 2.5 mm per year, starts at the age of 5-6 years and continues until the age of 17. As the root of the incisor develops, its apical foramen narrows and changes position. In young horses the apical foramen is situated at the apex of the tooth, whereas in older individuals it is located at the mesial, distal, or lingual side of the tooth at a distance of 5-15 mm from the dental apex. In horses aged over 20 years apical foramina are still present. Radiographic imaging is a good method with which to obtain reliable information concerning the total incisival length and the size and position of the apical foramen.

Aging↗

Ageing Arab horses by their dentition.

The dentition of 170 Arab horses of known ages was examined and compared with the dental characteristics of trotter horses and Belgian draft horses of the same ages. The results indicated that inaccuracies in the determination of the age of horses by their dentition may result, at least partly, from differences between the breeds of horse involved because there were some major differences between the three breeds examined. These differences increased as the horses' true age increased. In general, the rate of dental wear was slower in the Arab horses than in trotter horses and Belgian draft horses.

Age Determination by Teeth↗

Histological study of the innervation of the suspensory ligament of the forelimb of the horse.

The innervation pattern of the interosseus muscle of the forelimb was studied in two ponies and two horses. The nerves of the suspensory ligament were studied histologically after neurectomy of the ulnar and median nerve branches proximal to the carpal joint. The results demonstrated that the interosseus muscle is innervated by the deep branch of the lateral palmar nerve which emerges at the level of the midcarpal region and contains fibres from the ulnar and the median nerve. These findings provide evidence that an ulnar nerve block proximal to the accessory bone would fail to anaesthetise the entire suspensory ligament.

Anesthesia↗

Morphologic peculiarities of the renal cortical vasculature connected with blood redistribution in the kidney of the domestic pig.

The cortical blood vessels from 2 to 8 month old Camborow hybrid pigs and Belgium landrace pigs were studied using histologic and semithin sections as well as corrosion casts and cleared preparations of intravascular injection. It was established that the cortical blood vessels of the porcine kidney possess peculiarities that may regulate the redistribution of blood in the cortex. These peculiarities were found in the interlobular arteries, in the efferent arterioles of midcortical nephrons, in afferent arterioles of juxtamedullar glomeruli, and in the glomerular capillary networks. It was established that the number of renal corpuscles is different in the various zones of the cortex.

Animals↗

Variation in the estrogen receptor content of canine uterine tissue throughout the estrous cycle.

The estrogen receptor (ER) was visualized immunohistochemically in paraffin sections of the canine uterus using a monoclonal antibody. The ER-expression was quantified by means of an immunohistochemical score. In the uterine horns highest scores were found during proestrus and lowest scores during early metestrus. Staining scores in the uterine body and cervix were high during estrus and metestrus compared with the uterine horns. A negative correlation was found between serum progesterone levels and immunohistochemical staining for ER in the uterine horns. The fluctuations in immunohistochemical scores were more pronounced in the endometrial stroma cells than in the epithelial cells of the uterine horns and therefore stromal cells may be of higher importance than epithelial cells concerning cyclic endometrial changes and uterine pathology.

Animals↗

Ageing draft and trotter horses by their dentition.

The accuracy of ageing horses by their dentition was assessed by comparing the dental features with the known dates of birth of 212 trotter horses and 189 Belgian draft horses. The horses ranged in age from two to 25 years. In both breeds it was observed that the shedding of the incisors and the appearance of the dental stars were the most reliable features for age determination. In young animals, the dental configuration was similar in both breeds. With increasing age the incisor teeth of draft horses were more liable to abrasion than those of trotter horses. The sequential changes in appearance of the permanent incisors occurred earlier in draft horses than in trotters.

Age Determination by Teeth↗

Preferential sites for arterial blood sampling in cattle.

The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and reliability of different methods for obtaining samples of arterial blood from calves and adult dairy cows. The intermediate branch of the caudal auricular artery was easy to use in animals of all ages. The common carotid artery was also suitable, but only in standing animals. In recumbent animals, the brachial artery and the common palmar digital artery were suitable in calves up to six months old, and the saphenous artery was suitable in both young and adult cattle. The facial, axillary and median caudal arteries were either difficult to use or unreliable.

Animals↗

Ageing horses by an examination of their incisor teeth: an (im)possible task?

It is generally considered that the age of a horse can be determined by examining its incisor teeth. However, the criteria used to determine age from dental configurations differ widely. The existence of this variety of rules and guidelines was the challenge for the present examination. Detailed descriptions of the incisor teeth of 212 horses of registered age were recorded and the results were compared with the age criteria of various authors. The time at which teeth were shed and the appearance of dental stars seemed to be more reliable features than the disappearance of the cups. The disappearance of the marks occurred four years later than usually stated. Other criteria, such as the presence of the seven-year notch and Galvayne's groove, were too variable and inconsistent to be reliable for the determination of age.

Age Determination by Teeth↗

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome in a Border collie.

A Border collie was presented at the age of 9 weeks with several lesions of the right forelimb, including a reddish-blue haemangiomatous macula in the medio-dorsal part of the elbow, multiple, scattered small cavernous haemangioma-like lesions at the plantar part of the foot and a general hypertrophy of the limb. X-rays of the limb showed osteolysis. On skin biopsy, telangiectatic veins were observed. The rest of the body did not show any skin lesions or hypertrophy. The dog was otherwise healthy. Due to the extension of the lesions and worsening of the limb swelling, it was decided to amputate the affected limb. The dog remained healthy for 2 weeks, but then passed through episodes of anaemia, and finally died suddenly with signs of shock. Dissection of the limb after amputation revealed hypoplasia and aplasia of the deep venous system in the lower part of the leg. No arterio-venous shunts were noticed. ln man, this syndrome, characterised by an insufficiently developed deep venous system associated with local overgrowth of the limb and cutaneous telangiectasia, is known as Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

Journal Article↗

Anatomy of the ocular arteries in the horse.

Orbital and intrabulbar arteries were studied in 20 equine eyes by means of latex injections and methylmethacrylate casts. The orbital branches of the external ophthalmic artery arise far caudal to the posterior pole of the eyeball and present a variable topographic arrangement. The intrabulbar arteries are supplied by ciliary and choroidoretinal arteries. Dependent on their entrance into the eyeball, the ciliary arteries are subdivided into a posterior and an anterior group. The posterior ciliary arteries perforate the sclera post equatorially and consist of 4 major vessels that penetrate in the lateral, medial, dorsal and ventral meridian of the eyeball, respectively. The lateral and medial of these arteries follow a long intrabulbar trajectory after having supplied several short posterior ciliary arteries to the choroid. The anterior ciliary arteries consist of a dorsal and a ventral vessel which penetrate the eyeball in the pericorneal area. The choroidoretinal arteries form an arterial network around the optic nerve at the posterior pole of the eyeball. They give rise to all retinal arterioles and some peridiscal choroidal branches. The larger part of the choroid is supplied by branches of the posterior ciliary arteries. Additionally, the anterior choroid receives recurrent branches from an arterial circle that lies externally in the ciliary ring. The iris contains a major arterial circle formed by the lateral and medial long posterior ciliary arteries and both anterior ciliary arteries. A minor iridic arterial circle nor central retinal artery could be found in the equine eyes examined.

Animals↗

Development of the retinal circulation in the pig.

Retinal angiogenesis was studied in 300 eyes of 150 porcine fetuses by means of semithin histologic sections and vascular corrosion casts. In the embryonic and early fetal period, the retina is avascular and nourished via diffusion from the choriocapillaris and the vascular tunic of the lens. The development of the inner vascular plexus of the retina occurs in three different stages. In the first stage (angioblast phase), during gestational weeks 6-7, mesenchymal precursor cells arising from the arterial and venous circle around the optic nerve invade the nerve fiber layer of the retina via the otic disc border. They form a network of angioblasts that gives rise to an immature capillary network in the second stage (angiogenesis phase). This vascular monolayer is located within the nerve fiber layer and reaches the ora serrata around gestational weeks 9-10. Initially, the immature retinal capillaries have an irregular appearance with wide lumina and relatively small intercapillary meshes. Subsequently, the lumina become smaller by involution and atrophy. In the third stage (maturation and remodeling phase) the immature blood vessels differentiate into retinal arterioles, capillaries and venules. From gestational week 11 onwards, the larger retinal arterioles are surrounded by a distinct periarteriolar capillary-free zone. The three stages start at the optic disc and extend centrifugally towards the retinal periphery. The development of the outer vascular plexus is essentially different from the angiogenesis of the inner vascular plexus. The outer retinal vessels that are located in the inner nuclear layer arise from previously developed capillaries and venules located in the inner vascular plexus. Moreover, the development of the outer vascular plexus starts at the macula and proceeds along with the maturation of the neural retina.

Animals↗