Structural Variation in the Nasal Bone Region of European Moose (Alces Alces L.)

The ontogeny of typical (normal) nasal bone region of the European moose (Alces alces L.) and the 3 variants of the pattern, was studied. The variants, named as “extra bone type”, “punctured type” and “open type” referring the morphology of the internasal suture, were originally observed in Finnish male and female moose skulls in 1971. All of the variants were later found in hunting trophy exhibitions presenting male moose trophies from Sweden, Norway, Baltic Republics of USSR and Poland. The frequencies of the variants showed regional differences. By using histological, radiological and OTC bone labelling methods, all of the nasal bone types were observed in this study in embryonal (N=36), newborn (N=21), juvenile (N=38) and adult (N=12) moose. Two twin embryos showed different nasal bone structure. The variation is considered to be of congenital origin.     

Venous Drainage of the Femoral Neck in Legg Perthes Disease and in Hip Dysplasia

Three clinical cases of canine avascular femoral head necrosis and 4 cases of hip dysplasia were examined using intraosseus femoral neck venography. The contrast medium passed initio the diaphyseal bone marrow in all cases. Three growing dogs and 7 growing pigs were examined with the same method, before and after experimental ligation of the femoral veins. Before the venous tamponade, no contrast medium was visible in the femoral neck. The venography performed immediately after ligation showed contrast flow into the femoral neck similar to that seen in the clinical cases of Legg Perthes disease or hip dysplasia. However, a collateral circulation developed within 7 weeks. No more contrast-flow into the diaphysis was observed after that time. Although osteomedullography shows that both in Perthes disease and in hip dysplasia venous drainage has failed, venous tamponade may not induce the onset of the disease.     

Extraction and Characterization of Native Canine Bone Morphogenetic Protein (cBMP) Qualified with Osteoinductive

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) was extracted from canine bone matrix, partially purifed and tested for osteoinductivity. A radiographically and histologically detectable ectopic bone formation was induced by 6.0 mg canine (cBMP) in muscle pouch of BALB mouse at 21 days post implantation. Characterization of the cBMP preparation by a gel filtration chromatography defined that the material consisted of proteins or protein complexes with molecular weights from 4 to 120 kD. Isoelectric focusing showed that the molecules were acidic with isoelectric points of 4.6–5.6.