Comparative Study of the Liver Anatomy in the Rat, Rabbit, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla
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Comparative Study of the Liver Anatomy in the Rat, Rabbit, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla DepartmentFlorin Gheorghe of Comparative STAN Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372, Cluj Napoca, Romania * corresponding author: [email protected] Bulletin UASVM Veterinary Medicine 75(1)/2018 Print ISSN 1843-5270; Electronic ISSN 1843-5378 doi:10.15835/buasvmcn-vm:002717 Abstract In liver surgical and histological research, small rodents are the most used experimental models. Although the small animals liver is typically lobulated and its macroscopic appearance do not resemble that of the compact human liver, a high degree of lobulation equivalence, allow the use of small rodents in biomedical research. The macroscopic anatomy of the liver of the rat, rabbit, guinea pig and chinchilla was studied from a comparative standpoint. The topography,Hepar lobulation and the connection elements of the liver were examined by detailedLobus hepatis in situ sinisterobservation lateralis and explanted liver of forty specimens. Lobus hepatis dexter Lobus caudatusThe rat liver ( ) consists of four distinct lobes of different size: the left lateral lobe - LLL ( ), theLobus median hepatis lobe sinister - ML, medialisthe right lobe – RL ( ) andLobus the quadratuscaudate lobe CL ( ). The largest lobe was the median lobe. The rabbit liver consists of five lobes: left lateral lobe - LLL, left medial lobe - LML ( ), right lobe - RL, quadrate lobe – QL ( ) and caudate lobe - CL.Lobus The hepatis most developed dexter lateralis lobe was the left lateral lobe. TheLobus caudate hepatis lobe dexter had a medialis very narrow attachment on the hilar region. The guinea pig liver show six lobes: left lateral lobe - LLL, left medial lobe - LML, right lateral lobe – RLL ( ), right medial lobe – RML ( Lig.), Falciformequadrate lobe hepatis - QL and caudate lobe - CL. The largest lobe of this specie was the left lateral lobe. In chinchilla liver showed four lobes like in the rat. In the rats Lig.the mostCoronarium developed hepatis hepatic ligament was the falciform ligament ( ) which spans from xyphoid process of the sternum and diaphragm to the liver, beginning at the interlobular fissure. The coronary ligament ( ) was well developedLig.triangulare in all rats. Interlobular dextrum ligaments connect the left lateralLig. lobeTriangulare with the sinistrum upper caudate lobe. In rabbits, guineaLig.hepatorenale pigs and chinchillas the connection elementsLig. hepatoduodenalewere represented by the falciform ligament, coronary ligament, right ( ) and left triangular ligaments ( ), hepatorenal ligament ( ) and hepatoduodenal ligament ( ) with varying degrees of development. Based on detailed study of the macroscopic anatomy of rat, rabbit, guinea pig and chinchilla a proper experimental model in liver research, could be assessed. In this regard, the vascular anatomy of the liver in the mentionedKeywords species is of a great importance and it is subject of another report. : anatomy, experimental models, hepatic ligaments, liver lobes Introduction pathological studies. In this context, experimental In recent years, mice and rats are the lobar resections of the liver have been practiced most used animals both in morphological and on both healthy liver and liver tumors. Particularly functional studies of the liver. Starting from the of the rodents is that they have the same models used in experimental liver transplantation, anatomical organization of the liver, in the sense anatomical and physiological studies, metabolic that each liver lobe has its own pedicle containing and immunological research, the area of interest a portal triad, namely the corresponding branch has expanded in the field of regenerative and of the portal vein, its own biliary pathway and the 34 STAN et al. et al. arterial branch (Popesco , 1997; Stamatova chinchillas (mean body weight 350±60g) were , 2012; Quesenberryet al. et Carpenter, 2012). Due to brought from breeding farms in the day of the this fact, lobar resections, more or less extensive examination. All animals received care according to (Madrahimov , 2006) are possible. All these the criteria outlined in the “Guide for care and Use interventions requires a good understanding of Laboratory Animals”. The study was performed of the liver’s macroscopic anatomy and its with approval of the Bioethics Committee of the vasculature. Due to the facts that rats are the most University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary commonly used in biomedical research because Medicine, Cluj Napoca. Euthanasia was performed they are easy to maintain and their procurement by administration of an overdose of isoflurane is cheap, anatomical liver studies have been made (AErrane, Baxter, USA) in all animals. A midline most often onLobus this rodent.hepatis The dexter rat and chinchillas incision of abdominal cavity was performed and liver is described as havingLobus hepatisfour main sinister lobes: the the liver, its topography, and connecting elements right lobe ( Lobus caudatus ), the medial were recorded. The hepatic ligaments were incised lobe, the left lobe ( et al ) and and the liver was extracted from abdominal cavity the caudate lobe ( ) (Martins and to be examined separately. Terms were used in Neuhaus 2007; Stan 2013; Novak ., 2015), accordanceResults with and NAV discussions 2012. while the guinea pig liver is divided into six lobes, the right and left lobes being subdivided in lateral and medialLig. part Falciforme (Breazile hepatisand Brown, • Topography,In the rats borders surfaces and relations 1976), topography determined by position onLobus the Heparwith adjacent structures hepatisfalciform dexter ligament lateralis ( ) and , the firm, smooth, dark red liver medianLobus plane. hepatis Thus, dexterthe right medialis lateral lobe ( ( ) was placed on the cranial abdominal Lobus) hepatis- RLL, sinisterthe right medialis medial region, half of its volume being situated in the lobe ( Lobus hepatis) – RML, sinister the intrathoracic part of abdominal cavity (Figure lateralisleft medial lobe ( Lobus) 1A). It has a compact appearance and a central caudatus- LML, the left lateral lobe ( Lobus position, the caudal edges reaching approximately quadratus)) – LLL,– besides the caudate lobe ( the same level on both sides of the abdominal ) – CL and the quadrate lobe ( cavity. On the right side, the caudal edge was made QL, are described. An intermediate by the rightFacies inferior diaphragmatica lobe and on the left side by situation is encountered in theet al.rabbit, in which the the left lateral lobe. The diaphragmatic or parietal liver has five lobes, the right lobe being undivided surface ( ) was smooth (Barone, 1997; Stamatova , 2012). Another and convex, being mostly Inmade situ by the medial distinguishing characteristicetv al., of rats compared lobes and by the left lateral lobe, and completely to the other three species is the absence of covered by theLobus peritoneum. hepatis sinister, onlateralis this surface gallbladder (Kongure 1999; Martins and were visible threeLobus lobes: hepatis the median dexter lobe, the left Neuhaus, 2007). Taking into account the fact that lateral lobe ( Lobus caudatus ), and the rodents share the same ancestor with the the right lobe ( ). Between lagomorphs on the one hand and on the other theLig. caudate Coronarium lobe hepatis( ), caudal vena hand the rabbits are used as much as experimental cava and the two layers of coronaryArea nuda ligament models as the rodents, this anatomical study ( ), a part of the liver was performs the comparative description of the lobes uncoveredFacies by the visceralis peritoneum, ( ) being of theMaterials liver at rat, and rabbit, methods guinea pig and chinchilla. in direct contact with the diaphragm. The visceral surface ( ) was deeply concave being in relation with the stomach, descending Forty animals (ten of each species) were duodenum, pancreas, transverse colon and right examined. Ten adult male Wistar rats (meanCluj flexure, spleen, right kidney andImpressio right suprarenal renalis body weight 460±40g) provided from the UMF gland. With the exeption of the right kidney, (University of Medicine and Pharmacy - that made the renal imprint ( ), Napoca) bio base, were used. Also, ten domestic the mentioned structures did not leave visible rabbits (mean body weight 980±250g), ten guinea imprints on the liver lobes. On the visceral surface, pigsBulletin UASVM(mean Veterinary body Medicine weight 75(1) / 2018420±50g), and ten 35 Comparative Study of the Liver Anatomy in the Rat, Rabbit, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Figure 1. In situ visceral surface of the rat-A and chinchilla-B, liver. LLL-left lateral lobe; LML-left medial lobe; RML-right medial lobe; DRL-dorsal right lobe and VRL-ventral right lobe; FL-falciform ligament; Interlobar ligament-arrow; S-stomach; RK-right kidney; P-pancreas; RL-right lobe; CP- caudate process; PP-papillary process; Fossa vesicae felleae coveredIn thealmost rabbits completely by the peritoneum, was Inattached chinchillas to its, fossa ( ), four lobes were recognized. between the right medial lobe and quadrate lobe. , the red-brown liver was as in guinea pigs, two-thirds of positionedFacies diaphragmatica almost in intrathoracic part of the liver mass was situated in intrathoracic part abdominal cavity. The diaphragmatic surfaceFacies of abdominal cavity (Figure 1B). Diaphragmatic visceralis( ) was convex applied on concave surface showed three lobes, while the the