Morphology of the paca liver (Cuniculus paca, Linnaeus 1766)

• Main Authors: Ana Laura Esper Gomes de Figueiredo Carvalho, Leandro Luís Martins, Andréa Cristina Scarpa Bosso, Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2012-06-01
• Series: Biotemas
• Subjects: Anatomy; Hepatic lobation; Light microscopy
• Online Access: http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume252/109a115.pdf

The elements related to the morphology of the liver of paca (Cuniculus paca), the second largest rodent of the Brazilian fauna, were observed; this species present zootechnical potential. Eight animals from the animals sector of Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias – Campus of Jaboticabal – UNESP, which is duly certified by IBAMA as an experimental breeding institute, were used. Through a dissection procedure, it was found that the liver of the paca is located in the cranial portion of the abdomen, immediately after the diaphragm, to which it is connected by the triangular, coronary, and falciform ligaments, having its bigger part located right to the medium plan. The liver of this rodent presents the following lobation: right lateral lobe, right medial lobe, quadrate lobe, left medial lobe, and left lateral lobe, besides the caudate lobe formed by the papillary process of caudate lobe and the caudate process of caudate lobe. Gallbladder is located between the quadrate and right medial lobes. Fragments of this organ were collected, fixed, and histologically prepared, being the samples analyzed through light microscopy. It was microscopically observed that intralobular connective tissue is scarce, basically it consists polyhedral hepatocytes organized into cords interposed between sinusoids and the portal triads are found in the lobe, consisting of the portal vein, hepatic artery, and biliary duct.