An Examination of Blind Mole-Rat (Nannospalax xanthodon) Brain, Cerebellum, and Spinal Cord Tissues: A Histological and Stereological Study

The purpose of this study was to perform a histological examination blind mole-rat (Nannospalax xanthodon) brain, cerebellum, and spinal cord tissues. Six mole-rats were caught in natural environment, anesthetized with ether, sacrificed. Brain, tissues then removed. All kept 10% formaldehyde for one week, at the end which they subjected routine procedures embedded blocks. Five micron-thick sections taken from blocks (5 15 micron thick tissues). stained hematoxylin-eosin, Cresyl Violet, DAPI. These evaluated under light fluorescent microscopes. weighed 201.3 ± 61 g, brains cerebella 1.8 0.3 mg 0.32 0.05 mg, respectively, volumes 1.49±0.46 ml, 0.33± 0.08 2.53± 0.19 µm3, respectively. No variation observed brain or cerebellum However, tissue revealed differences compared humans other rodents. exhibited segmented, lobulated appearance, each lobe itself exhibiting characteristics small cord. butterfly appearance observed, white gray matter transitions irregular, less more matter. location anterior posterior horns unclear. motor neuron cells also size. significant variations nuclear organization (DAPI signals) between any In conclusion, normal weight, increased weight while decrease determined volumes. examination, structural detected