Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Morphometric, histometric and elemental profile of the metacarpal and metatarsal bones in adult Sanjabi sheep

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sajedeh Azizi 1
Nader Goodarzi 2
Saeed Ghaderi 1

1 DVM Graduate, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Department of Basic Sciences and Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2024.2034586.4349
Abstract
Bone structure has been widely studied in mammals, however, osteon structure in sheep has received relatively little attention, especially in terms of its location on the forelimbs and hindlimbs. The aim of this study was to investigate the histometric characteristics and mineral composition of the metacarpus and metatarsus of adult Sanjabi sheep. Metacarpal and metatarsal bones were collected from five adult Sanjabi sheep (n = 10). Morphometric measurements were performed on computed tomographic scan images. Histometric parameters were measured on histological sections. The mineral composition of the bone samples was detected using the X-ray fluorescence method. The diameter of the Haversian canal in the right metatarsus was significantly greater than that in the other bones. The smallest diameter of the Haversian canal was observed for the right metacarpus. The diameter and area of the osteons in the right metacarpal were significantly greater than those in the other bones. The amount of essential mineral elements was not significantly different among bones. Aluminum and lead were significantly greater in the left metatarsus. The highest amount of copper was observed in the left metacarpus. These results indicated that there was a greater load on the right limb. This compensatory mechanism might be used to put more weight on the right forelimb and reduce the pressure caused by the weight of the rumen on the left forelimb. However, to prove this hypothesis, more detailed and extensive studies are needed in the future.

Keywords

Mineral elements
Osteon
Sheep
X-ray fluorescence

Subjects

  1. Koocheki A, Ghorbani R. Traditional agriculture in Iran and development challenges for organic agriculture. Int J Biodivers Sci Manag 2005; 1(1): 52-57.
  2. Mori R, Kodaka T, Soeta S, et al. Preliminary study of histological comparison on the growth patterns of long-bone cortex in young calf, pig, and sheep. J Vet Med Sci 2005; 67(12): 1223-1229.
  3. Hood DM, Wanger IP, Taylor DD, et al. Voluntary limb-load distribution in horses with acute and chronic laminitis. Am j Vet Res 2001; 62(9): 1393-1398.
  4. König HE, Liebich HG. Veterinary anatomy of domestic animals: textbook and color atlas. 7th New York, USA: Thieme Medical Publishing 2020; 183-263.
  5. Christensen AM, Smith MA, Thomas RM. Validation of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for determining osseous or dental origin of unknown material. J Forensic Sci 2012; 57(1): 47-51.
  6. Kierdorf U, Stoffels D, Kierdorf H. Element concentrations and element ratios in antler and pedicle bone of yearling red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags-a quantitative X-ray fluorescence study. Biol Trace Elem Res 2014; 162(1-3):124-133.
  7. Gonzalez-Rodriguez J, Fowler G. A study on the discrimination of human skeletons using X-ray fluorescence and chemometric tools in chemical anthropology. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 231(1-3): 407. e1-e6.
  8. Augat P, Schorlemmer S. The role of cortical bone and its microstructure in bone strength. Age Aging 2006; 35(Suppl 2): ii27-ii31.
  9. Chang B, Liu X. Osteon: structure, turnover, and regeneration. Tissue Eng Part B Rev 2022; 28(2): 261-278.
  10. Hillier ML, Bell LS. Differentiating human bone from animal bone: a review of histological methods. J Forensic Sci 2007; 52(2): 249-263.
  11. Jowsey Studies of Haversian systems in man and some animals. J Anat 1966; 100(Pt 4): 857-864.
  12. Dominguez VM, Crowder CM. The utility of osteon shape and circularity for differentiating human and nonhuman Haversian bone. Am J Phys Anthropol 2012; 149(1): 84-91.
  13. Britz HM, Thomas CD, Clement JG, et al. The relation of femoral osteon geometry to age, sex, height and weight. Bone 2009; 45(1): 77-83.
  14. Martin RB, Pickett JC, Zinaich S. Studies of skeletal remodeling in aging men. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1980; (149): 268-282.
  15. Felder AA, Phillips C, Cornish H, et al. Secondary osteons scale allometrically in mammalian humerus and femur. R Soc Open Sci 2017; 4(11): 170431. doi: 10.1098/rsos.170431.
  16. Gibson VA, Stover SM, Gibeling JC, et al. Osteonal effects on elastic modulus and fatigue life in equine bone. J Biomech 2006; 39(2): 217-225.
  17. van Oers RF, Ruimerman R, van Rietbergen B, et al. Relating osteon diameter to strain. Bone 2008; 43(3): 476-482.
  18. Owerkowicz T, Crompton AW. Bone of contention in the evolution of endothermy. J Vertebr Paleontol 1995; 15: 47A-47A.
  19. Zedda M, Brits D, Giua S, et al. Distinguishing domestic pig femora and tibiae from wild boar through microscopic analyses. Zoomorphology 2019; 138: 159-170.
  20. Zedda M, Palombo MR, Brits D, et al. Differences in femoral morphology between sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus): macroscopic and microscopic observations. Zoomorphology 2017; 136: 145-158.
  21. Dittmann K. Histomorphometric study of the bone microstructure of primates and domestic animals with the goal of species identification with reference to the effects of domestication [German]. Anthropol Anz 2003; 61(2): 175-188.
  22. Zedda M, Babosova R. Does the osteon morphology depend on the body mass? A scaling study on macroscopic and histomorphometric differences between cow (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries). Zoomorphology 2021; 140: 169-181.
  23. Skedros JG, Sybrowsky CL, Parry TR, et al. Regional differences in cortical bone organization and microdamage prevalence in Rocky Mountain mule deer. Anat Rec A Discov Mol Cell Evol Biol 2003; 274(1): 837-850.
  24. Pearson OM, Lieberman DE. The aging of Wolff's "law": ontogeny and responses to mechanical loading in cortical bone. Am J Phys Anthropol 2004; Suppl 39: 63-99.
  25. Frost HM. Skeletal structural adaptations to mechanical usage (SATMU): 2. Redefining Wolff's law: the remodeling problem. Anat Rec 1990; 226(4): 414-422.
  26. You L, Cowin SC, Schaffler MB, et al. A model for strain amplification in the actin cytoskeleton of osteocytes due to fluid drag on pericellular matrix. J Biomech 2001; 34(11): 1375-1386.
  27. Huiskes R, Ruimerman R, van Lenthe GH, et al. Effects of mechanical forces on maintenance and adaptation of form in trabecular bone. Nature 2000; 405(6787): 704-706.
  28. Burger EH, Klein-Nulend J, Smit TH. Strain-derived canalicular fluid flow regulates osteoclast activity in a remodeling osteon--a proposal. J Biomech 2003; 36(10): 1453-1459.
  29. Amr AM. Trace elements in Egyptian teeth. Int J Phys Sci 2011; 6(27): 6241-6245.
  30. Fischer A, Wiechuła D, Przybyła-Misztela C. Changes of concentrations of elements in deciduous teeth with age. Biol Trace Elem Res 2013; 154(3): 427-432.
  31. Buddhachat K, Klinhom S, Siengdee P, et al. Elemental analysis of bone, teeth, horn and antler in different animal species using non-invasive handheld X-ray fluorescence. PloS One 2016; 11(5): e0155458. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155458.
  32. Buddhachat K, Thitaram C, Brown JL, et al. Use of handheld X-ray fluorescence as a noninvasive method to distinguish between Asian and African elephant tusks. Sci Rep 2016b; 6: 24845. doi: 10.1038/ srep24845.
  33. Nganvongpanit K, Brown JL, Buddhachat K, et al. Elemental analysis of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) teeth using X-ray fluorescence and a comparison to other species. Biol Trace Elem Res 2016; 170(1): 94-105.
  34. Koester KJ, Barth HD, Ritchie RO. Effect of aging on the transverse toughness of human cortical bone: evaluation by R-curves. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2011; 4(7): 1504-1513.
  35. Burr DB. Bone material properties and mineral matrix contributions to fracture risk or age in women and men. J musculoskelet neuronal Interact 2002; 2(3): 201-204.
  36. Havaldar R, Pilli SC, Putti BB. Effects of aging on bone mineral composition and bone strength. IOSR J Dent Med Sci 2012; 1(3): 12-16.
  37. Macleay JM, Olson JD, Turner AS. Effect of dietary-induced metabolic acidosis and ovariectomy on bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover. J Bone Miner Metab 2004; 22(6): 561-568.
  38. West PA, MacLeay JM, Boskey AL. FT-IR imaging analysis of bone mineral changes in ovariectomized and dietary induced metabolic acidosis treated sheep. In Proceedings: 51st Annual meeting of the orthopedic research society. Washington, DC, USA 2005; 1131-1131.
  39. Dollwet HH, Sorenson JR. Roles of copper in bone maintenance and healing. Biol Trace Elem Res 1988; 18: 39-48.
  40. Hidiroglou M, Morris G, Ivan M. Chemical composition of sheep bones as influenced by molybdenum supplementation. J Dairy Sci 1982; 65(4): 619-624.
Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 16, Issue 5
May 2025
Pages 293-300

  • Receive Date 04 July 2024
  • Revise Date 30 October 2024
  • Accept Date 05 November 2024

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us