Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2015) 39: 1160-1161 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Short Communication doi:10.3906/zoo-1408-14
An observation of haversian systems in Stellagama stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) in Barla/Isparta, Turkey
1, 2 Meltem KUMAŞ *, Dinçer AYAZ 1 Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University, İstanbul, Turkey 2 Section of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
Received: 05.08.2014 Accepted/Published Online: 27.07.2015 Printed: 30.11.2015
Abstact: In this study, we observed haversian systems on the endosteal surface of the femur bone of one male individual of Roughtail Rock Agama, Stellagama stellio, which was collected from Barla/Isparta province of Turkey. It was observed that the haversian canal was located on the center of the haversian systems or secondary osteons, and it was surrounded by concentric lamellae. All lamellae were separated from each other by a cement line that stained darker than other constituents. Volkmann’s canals were not observed between haversian canals, and other concentric lamellae were not encountered between periosteum and haversian systems. These results indicate that remodeling can be partly seen in this species. Our study is important in terms of being the first record to demonstrate haversian systems on the femur bone of S. stellio.
Key words: Stellagama stellio, haversian system, secondary osteon, remodeling, Turkey
Long bone development is the best tool for were not included in that previous study (Kumaş and understanding life styles of species. Differences in bone Ayaz, 2014). Therefore, the current study aims to exhibit structure have been correlated with the taxonomic position the presence of haversian systems in S. stellio. of different vertebrate groups (Bennett and Ruben, 1986). The specimen was collected on 07.04.2012 from Two types of bone modeling, which are called lamellar Barla township (38.017146°N, 30.783906°E, 1194 m) in zonal and fibrolamellar bone, are seen in ectothermic and Isparta Province of Turkey. This region is influenced by endothermic species, respectively. Fibrolamellar bone semiterrestrial climate conditions. is present in endothermic vertebrates such as mammals For histological processes, the femur bone was fixed in and birds, and it also takes place at a quicker and constant 96% ethanol and decalcified by 5% nitric acid for 2–8 h rate. Lamellar zonal bone is found in most ectothermic according to the size of the bone. Transverse sections of vertebrates such as amphibians and extant reptiles, 15–20 µm were prepared using a freezing microtome, and and it has a slow and variable growth rate (Köhler and all sections were stained with Ehrlich’s hematoxylin for 10 Moya-Sola, 2009). This bone takes form periodically as min. a result of storage of the parallel fibrolamellar bone, and The study procedure was approved by Decision its development stops periodically (Ricqlès et al., 1991; No. 2011-027 of the Local Ethics Board for Animal de Margerie et al., 2002). Particularly in lizards among Experiments, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University. squamate reptiles, the bone structure does not contain In our previous study, a total of 218 specimens were lamellar systems and there is no secondary bone formation studied for determination of the long bone histology of (Pal et al., 2009). S. stellio (Kumaş and Ayaz, 2014). We detected secondary In our previous study, we revealed that the bone osteons on the endosteal surface of the femur in only one structure of Stellagama stellio was the lamellar zonal male individual (snout–vent length (SVL) =1148.3 mm; type, the primary bone was preserved throughout life, Figure 1). Figure 1 was not utilized in our previous study. and secondary bone development, defined as endosteal In the current study, it was observed that the haversian resorption, was rather slow. Development of a haversian canal was located on the center of the haversian systems system or osteons, which were observed in only one male or secondary osteons, and this canal was surrounded by individual, had not been recognized, and so the results concentric lamellae. All lamellae were separated from each
* Correspondence: [email protected] 1160 KUMAŞ and AYAZ / Turk J Zool
Figure 1. Cross-section of the femur in a male individual. It is Figure 2. Secondary osteons on the endosteal surface of the observed that the secondary osteons are located on the endosteal femur. Eb: endosteal bone, SO: secondary osteon, HC: haversian surface of the femur. Eb: endosteal bone, SO: secondary osteon. canal, arrows: cement line. Stain: Ehrlich’s hematoxylin. Stain: Ehrlich’s hematoxylin. SVL = 114.83 mm. other by a cement line, which stained darker than other does not occur, and Pal et al. (2009) emphasized similar constituents (Figure 2). We did not observe Volkmann’s results. So far, there have not been any recorded data in canals between haversian canals, and other concentric the literature about the formation of haversian systems lamellae were not encountered between periosteum and in species of Agamidae. The purpose of this study was to haversian systems. reveal that haversian systems can occur on the secondary There is very limited study on bone development of bone and partial resorption can be seen in S. stellio. species of Agamidae. It is known that growth, metabolic activity, and bone development are very slow in lizards. Acknowledgments Smirina and Ananjeva (2007) stated that the majority of This study was financially supported by the Research Fund recent reptiles (including agamids) have nonvascularized Accountancy of Ege University, Turkey (2011FEN008). bone tissue so the secondary remodeling of bone tissue
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