Application of other histological technique observations of bovine tegument with cupper deficiency

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to understand the histology of bovine teguments with normal and low cupper levels by Common Optical Microscope (COM) and Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) observations. It is worthwhile noting that new scientific findings about the importance of trace elements are reported not only for bovines but also for other species. Forty Hereford steers, average live weight 230 kg from two fields of the Buenos Aires Province with low levels of cupper were used. The animals were distributed in two groups A and B with the same number of animals: group A with Cu deficiency, group B with optimal Cu levels. For the histological study, samples of teguments of the auricular pavilion from the two groups of animals were fixed with buffered formol 10%, pH 7.4. The samples for MOC and SEM observation were cutted in 20 and 40 micrometers. Blood samples were extracted from the jugular for Cu determination by Spectrophometer of atomic absorption. Results: group A showed mean values lower than 50mcg/dl (hypocupremia). Group B mean values of 70mcg/dl (normocupremic). We concluded that it is possible to compare and make correlations of the morphological alterations observed by the MOC and SEM. Both techniques and microscopes were useful to distinguish the normal structures from those with cupper deficiencies.