title: Morphological characteristics of the interpubic joint (Symphysis pubica) of rats, guinea pigs and mice in different physiological situations. A comparative study.
abstract: The pubic joint of male and female rats, guinea pigs and mice was studied using the Picrosirius polarization method which selectively discloses the fibers of the collagenous system. Besides that, considerations were made regarding joint classification. In adult rats (both males and females, including intrapartum specimens), our results confirm those of earlier studies showing that the interpubic joint contains a central core of hyaline cartilage surrounded by fibrocartilaginous areas. Thus, in rats, the pubic joint should more properly be classified as a true synchondrosis. In virgin female guinea pigs and mice, the interpubic joint is formed of fibrocartilage (a true symphysis); whereas at term the bones are joined by a connective ligament, constituting a syndesmosis. Male mice have a similar (fibrocartilaginous) joint structure to virgin female mice, whereas male guinea pigs (like rats) have a hyaline cartilage joint. The foregoing observations indicate that the classification of the pubic joint depends upon the species, age, sex, and physiological reproductive stage studied. Species that are very similar in most other aspects (such as rats and mice) displayed different morphological features of the pubic joint to support the same reproductive processes. Together, the data reported here suggest that interspecies differences are likely to be found in other parameters and should be considered when choosing an appropriate animal model for research or teaching purposes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Tumores Hormonodependientes, School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Hugo H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Mónica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Muñoz-de-Toro
authors.forename: Enrique H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.forename: Gregorio S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Montes
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006818:Hyalin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D011247:Pregnancy; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; C009798:C.I. direct red 80; D003094:Collagen