title: Histological Evaluation of Selected Organs of the Eurasian Beavers (Castor fiber) Inhabiting Poland.
abstract: There is a general scarcity of data on the histological structure of major organs in the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). This study presents the histological characteristics of beaver organs such as the liver, spleen, cardiac muscle, lungs and kidneys. Tissue samples were collected from 21 beavers and analysed. Selected samples of tail tissue were additionally examined. Tissue samples were placed in neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. 4-μm-thick sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and other staining techniques were also used. Scant amounts of inter-lobular connective tissue were found in the liver. Ion or copper deposition was not observed, but scattered cytoplasmic glycogen deposits were present in hepatocytes. Our results suggest that beavers have defensive rather than storage spleens. Interestingly, the presence of melanin in splenic red pulp was noted. The histological structure of the examined organs closely resembled that of other rodent species. According to our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the histological structure of beaver organs. Nevertheless, precise characterization of the evaluated organs requires further work with the involvement of accurate and reliable techniques, such as molecular biology or electron microscopy methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dolka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 2, 10-719, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giżejewska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Giżejewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kluciński
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kołodziejska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013623:Tail / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016610:Tissue Embedding