A technique or long-term small artery cannulation for studies on wool growth

Authors: Familton AS, Wilkinson BR, Aitken FJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 31, Issue 10, pp 184-185, Oct 1983
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Circulatory system/haematology, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Surgery
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Current knowledge of the biological features of the wool fibre and follicle has recently been reviewed by Chapman and Ward. Understanding the control of wool growth involves an understanding of the function of the wool follicle and detailed knowledge is lacking in a number of important areas. Mature wool follicles cannot be cultured in vitro. Studies have been largely restricted to whole-animal experiments which have measured wool growth response to feeding regime; or infusion into the abomasum or injection, typically into the jugular vein, of compounds of interest. These techniques provoke a whole-animal response and fail to clarify direct effects at the follicle level. Furthermore, there is no internal control for the experiments. As wool growth varies with day length and other influences, preand post-experiment data have limitations for comparative control purposes. A technique for short-term isolated cutaneous infusion has been described This letter describes the long-term cannulation of the median caudal artery (A. coccygea mediana) of undecked sheep to allow investigation of the direct effects of several compounds on wool growth, in a semi-closed system. The tissue supplied with blood via this vascular bed is of small size which thus allows the use of very small quantities of material, including radioisotopes…

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