
pmid: 37663296
pmc: PMC10473042
Background Dugongs are marine mammals with a crescent-shaped tail fluke and a concave trailing margin that belong to the family Dugongidae., They are distributed widely in the warm coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Importantly, the population of dugongs has decreased over the past decades as they have been classified as rare marine mammals. Previous studies have investigated the habitat and genetic diversity of dugongs. However, a comprehensive histological investigation of their tissue has not yet been conducted. This study provides unique insight into the organs of dugongs and compares them with other mammal species. Methods Tissue sections were stained with Harris’s hematoxylin and eosin Y. The histological structure of 17 organ tissues obtained from eight systems was included in this study. Tissue sections were obtained from the urinary system (kidney), muscular system (striated skeletal muscle and smooth muscle), cardiovascular system (cardiac muscle (ventricle), coronary artery, and coronary vein), respiratory system (trachea and lung), gastrointestinal system (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas), reproductive system (testis), lymphatic system (spleen and thymus), and endocrine system (pancreas). Results While most structures were similar to those of other mammal species, there were some differences in the tissue sections of dugongs when compared with other mammalian species and manatees. These include the kidneys of dugongs, which were non-lobular and had a smooth, elongated exterior resulting in a long medullary crest, whereas the dugong pyloric epithelium did not have overlying stratified squamous cells and was noticably different from the Florida manatee. Discussion Histological information obtained from various organs of the dugong can serve as an essential foundation of basal data for future microanatomical studies. This information can also be used as high-value data in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of sick dugongs or those with an unknown cause of death.
Male, Cancer Research, Histology, Conservation Biology, MicroRNA Regulation in Cancer and Development, QH301-705.5, Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Cardiovascular Health, Kidney, Sirenia, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Health Sciences, Animals, Dugong, Role of Urotensin II in Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease, Biology (General), Pancreas, Biology, Tissue, R, Life Sciences, Caniformia, Microanatomy, Organ, Research Design, FOS: Biological sciences, Medicine, Surgery, Cetacea, Anatomy, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Zoology
Male, Cancer Research, Histology, Conservation Biology, MicroRNA Regulation in Cancer and Development, QH301-705.5, Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Cardiovascular Health, Kidney, Sirenia, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Health Sciences, Animals, Dugong, Role of Urotensin II in Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease, Biology (General), Pancreas, Biology, Tissue, R, Life Sciences, Caniformia, Microanatomy, Organ, Research Design, FOS: Biological sciences, Medicine, Surgery, Cetacea, Anatomy, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Zoology
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
