A Macro-Anatomical Investigation of the Some Skull Bones of Nehring's Blind Mole Rats (Spalacidae: Nannospalax nehringi)

This study was aimed to demonstrate the specific anatomical features of the skull bones of Nehring's blind mole rats. Eight skulls, belonging to animals of both sexes, were used. The occipital squama contributed to the formation of the caudal portion of the skull roof. The foramen magnum was quite large. The external occipital crest was present only in the males. The parietal bones formed the middle portion of the skull roof together with the well-developed inter-parietal bones. The zygomatic process of the temporal bone formed the zygomatic arch by extending to the temporal process of the zygomatic bone. The zygomatic process of the frontal bone and the frontal process of the zygomatic bone laterally bordered the orbit. There was a single septal process of the nasal bone. Each ramus of the mandibula had four processes. The mandibular ramus had an angular process on its caudal rim, which extended dorsolaterally. The dorsal free end of the mandibular ramus possessed a coronoid process. In the back, there were two other processes, situated medially and laterally. The medially situated process was referred to as a condylar process, and the laterally situated process was referred to as an alveolar process. The alveolar process detected on the mandibular ramus has not been reported in any rodent species, other than those of the family Spalacidae. Blind mole rats can be a real eye-opener for evolutionary science. The burrowing rodents are key to answering a controversial question about how new species arise.

Histological investigation of the impact of streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes on the healthy gingivae of rats

This study was aimed at the histological investigation of the impact of experimental diabetes on the healthy gingiva of rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were used in this study. The animals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 15) prior to the experiment. Group 1 experimental diabetes was created by streptozotocin injection in 15 rats. Group 2 comprised the control group (15 rats). On the 7th, 14th and 21st days after the induction of diabetes by streptozotocin, five animals from each group were euthanized by cardiac puncture. The gingiva of the maxillary left first molar tooth of the sacrificed animals was extracted for histological examination. Histological examination demonstrated that, when compared to the control group, the diabetes group displayed marked hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis of the gingival epithelium on day 21 post-induction. Furthermore, the diabetes group presented with an increased number of inflammatory cells and vasodilatation of the capillaries, in comparison to the controls. The overall evaluation of the findings obtained in this study suggested that diabetes alone could cause changes in the periodontium and affect periodontal health.