Histological study of white rhinoceros integument

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 4; p. e0176327
• Main Authors: Plochocki, Jeffrey H, Ruiz, Saul, Rodriguez-Sosa, José R, Hall, Margaret I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 25-04-2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Bundles; Bundling; Ceratotherium simum; Cheek; Coiling; Collagen; Collagen - ultrastructure; Collagen diseases; Dermis; Elastic scattering; Epidermis; Epidermis - anatomy & histology; Epidermis - ultrastructure; Exocrine glands; Female; Fibers; Glands; Granular materials; Hair; Herbivores; Integument; Integumentary System - anatomy & histology; Lipids; Medicine and Health Sciences; Melanin; Microscopic analysis; National parks; Osteopathic medicine; Perissodactyla - anatomy & histology; Rhinocerotidae; Sebaceous glands; Shoulder; Skin; Skin - anatomy & histology; Skin - ultrastructure; Stratum corneum; Studies; Sweat; Sweat Glands - anatomy & histology; Sweat Glands - ultrastructure; Terrestrial environments; Ultrastructure; Veterinary colleges; White rhinoceros; United States > US; Arizona
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176327

In this study, we report findings from a microscopic analysis of the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) integumentary ultrastructure. Skin samples from the cheek, shoulder, flank and rump were taken from a 46-year-old female southern white rhinoceros and examined using H&E and elastic histological stains. The epidermis was thickest in the flank (1.003 mm) followed by the rump, cheek and shoulder. The stratum corneum comprised more than half the epidermal thickness. Numerous melanin granules were found in the basal and spinosum layers. The epidermal-dermal junction was characterized by abundant papillary folds increasing surface contact between integument layers. Most of the dermal thickness consisted of organized collagen bundles with scattered elastic fibers. Collagen fiber bundles were thickest in the flank (210.9 μm) followed by shoulder, rump and cheek. Simple coiled sweat glands were present in the dermis, but hair and sebaceous glands were absent. Together, these data suggest the white rhinoceros has a unique integumentary system among large terrestrial herbivores.