http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/132 2026-04-08T13:32:32Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2220 DENTAL ERUPTION PATTERNS AND PROFILE OF DENTAL ANOMALIES IN THE NIGERIAN INDIGENOUS PIG (Sus scrofa) OKANDEJI, Michael Efeturi Pigs are omnivores which possess two sets of teeth, the deciduous and permanent teeth. Patterns of dental eruptions have been deployed in age estimation, while variations in dental eruption reflect the influence of genetics and the environment. Dental anomalies are noticeable deviations from the normal dental architecture. Despite the advances in dental studies in exotic pigs, there is limited information on the eruption pattern and dental anomalies of the Nigerian Indigenous Pig (NIP), which are important indices in production. This study was therefore designed to investigate the pattern of dental eruption and profile of dental anomalies in the NIP. Adult NIPs (six females, one male), with history of extensive husbandry, were obtained, housed intensively, and fed compounded feed (calcium-2.45%, crude protein-16.06%, metabolisable energy- 2,659kcal/kg) supplemented with cassava peels. The pigs were allowed to mate naturally and pregnant sows were observed till farrowing. Piglets (24 males, 27 females) and subsequent adults (12 males, 14 females) were retrieved, from the initial total of 51 piglets, for deciduous and permanent teeth eruption investigations, respectively. Deciduous tooth eruption was monitored, by oral observation, thrice weekly, from day one to 24 weeks, while permanent tooth eruption was monitored from 18 to 148 weeks. The profile of dental anomalies was assessed, using 47 macerated skulls of randomly selected pigs from the eruption studies (21 males, 26 females), that were sacrificed at various time points, between 12 and 204 weeks. Data on eruption and dental anomalies were observed and data analysed using descriptive statistics and Student’s t-test at α0.05. All piglets had eight “needle” (third incisor and canine) teeth at birth. Females had earlier onset of eruption of deciduous teeth (3.19±0.24 weeks), compared to males (3.38±0.25 weeks), while males had earlier onset of eruption of permanent teeth (20.33±0.33 weeks), compared to females (20.64±0.25 weeks). The eruption time for the third maxillary incisor, the mandibular and maxillary canines, and the fourth mandibular premolar teeth were significantly earlier in the adult males (38.00±2.07, 41.73±1.65, 42.18±1.71 and 67.29±0.42 weeks, respectively) compared to the females (47.24±1.52, 48.75±1.61, 51.50±1.04 and 69.45±0.64 weeks, respectively). Adult pigs (69.2%) did not erupt the first mandibular premolar tooth, while the deciduous mandibular incisor tooth was persistent in 42.3%. The deciduous teeth eruption sequence in the NIPs, was i3/i3→c1/c1→i1→p3→p3→i1→i2→p4→p4→p2→i2→i2, while permanent teeth eruption sequence was M1→P1→M1→I3→I3→C1→P1→C1→M2→M2→I1→I1→P3/P3→P4/P4→P2→P2→I2→I2→M3/M3. Dental anomalies were significantly higher in females (96.2%) than males (66.7%). Most of the skulls had signs of dental attrition (97.8%), stained teeth (95.7%), at least a missing tooth (65.9%) and 48.9% had at least one persistent deciduous tooth. Dental calculus, tooth fracture, dental caries and tooth rotation occurred in 74.4, 46.8, 34.0 and 21.3% of the skulls, respectively. The occurrence of needle and first molar teeth, as the first set of deciduous and permanent teeth to erupt, respectively, were established in the Nigerian indigenous pig. This is the first template for ageing in the Nigerian indigenous pigs. The preponderance of dental anomalies in the pig underscores the importance of the maintenance of dental health, for good management in this species. 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1372 AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE MORPHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE TESTIS AND EPIDIDYMIS OF THE AFRICAN GREATER CANE RAT (Thryonomys swinderianus TEMMINCK, 1827) OMIRINDE, JAMIU OYEWOLE African Greater Cane Rat (AGCR) is a wild rodent currently being domesticated as an alternative source of animal protein in West African countries. Available research reports on the reproductive biology of the male AGCR have focused mainly on the adult without any information on age-related changes in the reproductive organs of the animal. This study was therefore designed to investigate age-related changes in the morphophysiology of the testis and epididymis of the AGCR. Fifty-two AGCR of known ages obtained from a commercial farm were used for the study. The rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups (n=13). Group I [prepubertal: ≤4 months]; group II [pubertal: >4≤12 months]; group III [adult: >12≤30 months] and group IV [aged: >30 months]. All rats were acclimatised for 7 days. On day 8, blood samples were collected for serum hormonal assay [testosterone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinising Hormone (LH) and oestrogen, and testis and epididymis were harvested. Semen characteristics (sperm motility, livability, sperm concentration) were studied from epididymal tissue. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to study age-related morphological changes in testis and epididymis. Testicular and epididymal immunoreactivities to vimentin, S-100, neurofilament and Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein (GFAP) were also estimated using standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA at α0.05. There were significant increases in the concentration of testosterone (2.02±0.19, 3.85±0.29,4.12±0.15 ng/mL) and oestrogen (0.94±0.00, 1.48±0.4, 4.33±0.82 pg/mL) for prepubertal, pubertal and adult, respectively as age increases, while there were no significant differences in these hormones between adult and aged AGCR. The concentrations of FSH (12.33±0.83, 10.58±0.95, 9.250±0.6 mIU/mL)and LH (15.50±0.88, 12.83±1.20, 10.17±0.83 mIU/mL) decreased significantly for prepubertal, pubertal and adult, respectively, while the adult and aged were similar. No spermatozoa was observed for the prepubertal rats. Sperm motility and concentration (80.00±4.08%; 135.3±6.42 x 106 sperm/mL, respectively) significantly increased in adult rats compared to pubertal (62.50±4.79%; 101.50±7.96 x 106 sperm/mL) and aged rats (55.00±5.00%; 91.25±2.56 x 106 sperm/mL). However, sperm livability showed no significant difference across pubertal, adult and aged rats. The canalisation of the seminiferous tubules was absent in prepubertal rats, while it showed significant increases from pubertal to aged. Spermatogonia and spermatocytes in prepubertal had more mitochondria compared to others. Sertoli cell nuclei were uniquely roundish in prepubertal compared to their triangular shape in pubertal, adult and aged. Also, epididymal epithelium changed from simple cuboidal in prepubertal to pseudostratified columnar in other groups. Vimentin, S-100, neurofilament and GFAP were markedly expressed in the testis and epididymis of adult AGCR compared to other groups. Age-related morphophysiological changes in the testis and epididymis of African greater cane rats were established. Hence, the adult cane rat is recommended for breeding programme. 2019-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/338 AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES ON VANADIUM-INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY IN MICE IGADO, OLUMAYOWA OLAWUMI Moringa oleifera (MO) is a shrub belonging to the family Moringaceae and various reports exist on the medicinal usefulness of its crude extract, including effect on some neurodegenerative diseases. Vanadium (V), a transition metal emitted into the atmosphere during fossil burning and gas flaring, is implicated in various neurodegenerative conditions. However, the ameliorative effect of a pure compound from MO has not been documented. This study was therefore designed to assess the neurotherapeutic properties of a pure compound isolated from MO leaves against vanadium-induced neurotoxicity in mice. A bioassay-guided fractionation was employed to separate the fractions of the methanol extract of MO leaves. Ferric reducing antioxidant potential assay was used to assess the fraction with the highest anti-oxidant potential, while preparative HPLC was employed to isolate the compound. Nuclear magnetic resonance was employed to elucidate the structure of the pure compound obtained, which was named MIMO2. Cell culture assays (Dihydroethidium, Micronucleus, and Comet assay tests) using immortalised mouse hippocampal cell lines (HT22) were used to assess the effect of MIMO2 on vanadium neurotoxicity. Eighty-four 2-week old mice were randomly and equally divided into seven groups, and dosed for 14 days, in the following groups: controls were water and DMSO, vanadium 3mg/kg (V), MIMO2 5mg/kg (M5), MIMO2 10mg/kg (M10), M5+V, and M10+V. Route of administration for all groups was intraperitoneal. Hanging wire and open field neurobehavioural tests were carried out on day 14, while all animals were humanely sacrificed and perfused on day 15. Histological examination on the brain included H&E, Cresyl Violet (for hippocampal neuronal count in cornu Ammonis 1 and 3 regions), immunohistochemistry (for microglia and astrocytes, with sterological count for microglia), Black Gold II histochemistry and triple immunofluorescence with confocal imaging. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. The concurrent administration of MIMO2 and V in HT22 cells resulted in a significant reduction of the immuno-expression of reactive oxygen species (33% reduction) and vanadium-induced DNA damage (52% reduction). Administration of M10 resulted in a significant amelioration of iii the neurobehavioural deficits caused by vanadium. In V group, histology showed Purkinje cell degeneration, depletion and focal multiple layering, with cerebral gliosis, neuronal clumping and degeneration. All these neuropathologies were considerably reduced with the administration of M10. Cresyl Violet stain showed significant amelioration of vanadium-induced neuronal loss in the cornu Ammonis 1 region of M10+V (4.9±2.3 x 10-5/sqμm) compared to V (3.9±1.9 x 10-5/sqμm). For H&E and Cresyl Violet, no appreciable differences were observed in M5 and M5+V compared to controls and V group, respectively. The somatosensory cortex showed microglia and astrocytic hyperplasia and hypertrophy evident in the vanadium group (12.5±1.5%, area covered by microglia), which was significantly ameliorated in M10+V (9.3±2.3%). Black Gold II histochemistry showed severe vanadium-induced pantropic demyelination, particularly in the middle band of the corpus callosum, somatosensory and motor cortices, which were significantly alleviated in M10+V. A novel antioxidant compound, MIMO2, was isolated in this study from Moringa oleifera leaves. The MIMO2 ameliorated vanadium-induced neurotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo in mice. Keywords: Moringa oleifera leaves, MIMO2, vanadium neurotoxicity, neurotherapeutic activity Word count: 499 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/332 MORPHO-FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OF THE GREATER CANE RAT (Thryonomys swinderianus) ADEBAYO, ADENRELE OLALEKAN The greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) is a wild, herbivorous hystricomorphic rodent that is currently undergoing domestication and captive-rearing in parts of Africa. Information on the reproductive biology of this animal is scarce. This study was aimed at investigating the structural and functional anatomy of the testes, excurrent ducts and accessory sex glands of the greater cane rat. This will add to baseline information to enhance its breeding and enrich the knowledge of reproductive anatomy of rodents. Eighty-five sexually matured cane rats with age range of 7-41months were obtained from two commercial farms in Ogun State, Nigeria. The body mass index (BMI) was obtained using body weight (BW) and the nose-to anus length. Morphological and morphometric investigations of each segment of the reproductive system at gross, histological and ultrastructural levels were carried out. Assay of five reproductive hormones and immunolocalisation of the receptors of progesterone (PR) and estrogen (ERα and ERβ) were carried out using standard methods. Monthly variations of the testis and epididymis to determine reproductive efficiencies at different seasons were evaluated using morphometric tools. Standard mammalian anatomical nomenclatures were used to describe features while numerical data were subjected to correlation analysis at p=0.05. The average BW of the animals was 2.23 ±0.40 Kg while the BMI ranged from 0.88 – 1.70 g/cm2. The testis was found in varied regions in the animal including abdominal, inguinal and scrotal areas. Also observed was inverted S-shaped epididymis, prostate gland with four lobes on the right and three on the left and Y-shaped cranially branched vesicular gland. Histologically, nine stages of seminiferous epithelium cycle were identified and the epididymis presented six discrete zones in its four typical regions. The prostate showed two distinct zones while the coagulating, vesicular and bulbourethral glands exhibited normal histological features typical of rodents. Distinctive ultrastructural features observed included 12-step spermatids differentiation, large fluid-filled lymphoid sinuses in the testicular interstitium and the presence of intraepithelial macrophages found only in the vas deferens. Also, apocrine secretory pattern in the coagulating gland and the classic electron-dense strands radiating from secretory granules of the bulbourethral gland were observed. The tubular diameter of the cauda epididymis was widest in April (647.9 ±145 µm) and lowest in January (319.3 ±60.7 µm). Significantly positive correlation was observed between the animal’s height and testicular weight and volume. There was double fold increase in serum testosterone level in the rainy season. The epididymis showed selective intense ERβ staining of its narrow, apical and basal cells while PR was immuno-localised in the principal cells of cauda epididymis. The nine-stage spermatogenic cycle and the 12-step spermatid differentiation coupled with the sequences of acrosomal formation indicate short pattern of spermatogenesis in the male greater cane rat. Also, the distribution pattern of the hormonal receptors as well as seasonal variation in the serum testosterone levels characterise this species as a seasonal breeder with increased reproductive activities during the rainy season. Keywords: Greater cane rat, Sex hormone receptor, Reproductive anatomy. Word count: 479 2015-06-01T00:00:00Z