Authors : Yasemin Oznurlu, Ilhami Celik, Emrah Sur, Tugba Telatar and Haluk Ozparlak
Abstract: In this study, thickness of the skin sub layers and the number, absolute and relative areas of the nuclear Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organiser Regions (AgNORs) and the number of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) positive nuclei of the germinal matrix epithelial cells of the Angora and white New Zealand rabbits were compared. Skin samples were taken from 40 adult healthy rabbits. General histological features of the skin in both Angora and white New Zealand rabbits were quite similar and displayed the characteristics of thin skin. Angora rabbit skin was significantly (p<0.05) thicker than that of the white New Zealand rabbit and the difference mainly originated from the thicker papillary layer of the dermis. The Angora rabbit had the greatest hair follicle number in the unit area of the dermis. The shape, dimension and distribution pattern of the AgNORs were similar in both rabbit strains. The number, absolute and relative areas of the AgNORs and PCNA immunoreactivity of the Angora rabbits were higher than those of the White New Zealand rabbits. The histological characteristics of the skin in the white New Zealand rabbit were suitable for leather industry, whereas the Angora rabbit had good hair follicle characteristics for wool production. Further studies on a larger population regarding seasonal differences should be done to elucidate the possible association between AgNOR parameters and PCNA immunoreactivity of germinal matrix cells of hair follicles and wool production.
Yasemin Oznurlu, Ilhami Celik, Emrah Sur, Tugba Telatar and Haluk Ozparlak, 2009. Comparative Skin Histology of the White New Zealand and Angora Rabbits: Histometrical and Immunohistochemical Evaluations. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 1694-1701.