doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.448-461
Article history: Received: 06-12-2023, Accepted: 24-01-2024, Published online: 23-02-2024
Corresponding author: Fengqi Wan
E-mail: wanfqflower@126.com
Citation: Jing L, Xu J, Cai J, Huang S, Qiao X and Wan F (2024) Morphologic and mechanical adaptive variations in Saiga tatarica calcaneus: A model for interpreting the bone functional adaptation of wild artiodactyl in captivity, Veterinary World, 17(2): 448–461.Background and Aim: Captivity alters the locomotor behavior of wild artiodactyls and affects the mechanical loading of the calcaneus; however, the resulting adaptive changes in calcaneus morphology have not been sufficiently studied to date. This study aimed to investigate the morphological and mechanical adaptive variations in the calcaneus of Saiga tatarica to understand further the functional adaptation of the calcaneus in wild artiodactyl to captivity.
Materials and Methods: Paired calcanei from autopsy samples of six captive wild artiodactyls (S. tatarica) and six domesticated artiodactyls (Ovis aries) were divided into skeletally immature and mature groups using X-ray evaluation of growth plate closure. High-resolution microcomputed tomography revealed a calcaneal diaphyseal cross-section. The mechanical and nanomorphological characteristics of the trabecular bone were determined by atomic force microscopy.
Results: The percent cortical bone area (%CA), cortical thickness ratio (CTR), and Young’s modulus (E) differed between species in the immature groups but not in the mature groups. S. tatarica had significantly higher growth rates for %CA, CTR, and E in the mid-shaft than O. aries (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The calcaneus morphology of S. tatarica converges with that of domesticated O. aries during ontogeny. These results indicate that the calcaneus of wild artiodactyls can undergo potentially transitional changes during the short-term adaptation to captivity. The above parameters can be preliminarily identified as morphological signs of functional bone adaptation in artiodactyls.
Keywords: artiodactyl, bone functional adaptation, calcaneus, captivity, morphological variation, Saiga tatarica.
This document is a research article that investigates the morphological and mechanical adaptive variations in the calcaneus (heel bone) of Saiga tatarica (a species of wild artiodactyl) in captivity.
The study aimed to investigate the morphological and mechanical adaptive variations in the calcaneus of Saiga tatarica to understand the functional adaptation of the calcaneus in wild artiodactyls to captivity.
The study compared the calcaneal morphology and mechanical properties of captive-wild Saiga tatarica and domesticated Ovis aries in both immature and mature age groups.
The results showed significant differences in the calcaneal morphology and mechanical properties between the two species in the immature groups, but not in the mature groups.
Saiga tatarica had higher growth rates for percent cortical bone area, cortical thickness ratio, and Young's modulus in the mid-shaft of the calcaneus compared to Ovis aries.
The study suggests that the calcaneus of wild artiodactyls can undergo transitional changes during short-term adaptation to captivity, and the identified parameters can be considered as morphological signs of functional bone adaptation in artiodactyls.
The calcaneus morphology of captive-wild artiodactyls converges with that of domesticated artiodactyls during growth and development.
Morphological characteristics such as cortical bone area, cortical bone thickness, and nano-mechanical properties of the calcaneal bone differ between immature captive-wild and domesticated artiodactyl individuals, but converge during adulthood.
Trabecular bone structure and characteristics, such as grain size and Young's modulus, show localized variations between species and changes with age, indicating adaptation to different stress environments.