Effects of glucose administration on development of sclera in chick embryos

Objective: To determine the effect of glucose administration on the development of sclera in the chick embryo Gallus domesticus

Study Design: Experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department, CPSP Regional Centre, Islamabad, from January 2013 to January 2014

Methodology: The study was carried out in two main groups, control A and experimental B, which were subdivided into three subgroups comprising 30 eggs each. The group A was injected with normal saline [0.3 ml] in the egg albumen. The group B was injected with 0.3 ml of 5% w/v solution of glucose equivalent to 15 mg of glucose. Subgroups A1 and B1 were opened on day 10 of incubation. Subgroups A2 and B2 were sacrificed on day 12 of incubation. Eggs from subgroups A3 and B3 were opened on day 15 of incubation. Experimental subgroups were compared with matched control subgroups and quantitative data was analysed statistically

Results: Administration of glucose resulted in changes in thickness of sclera. The mean thickness [[micro]m] of sclera at day 10 of incubation was 43.54 +/-2.45 in control subgroup and 43.03 +/-5.86 in the experimental subgroup [p=0.673]. The mean thickness [[micro]m] of sclera at day 15 of incubation 77.48 +/-8.32 in control subgroup and 73.99 +/-8.62 in experimental subgroup [p=0.145]. The mean number of chondrocytes/unit area of hyaline cartilage of sclera in day 10 was 17.40 +/-1.44 control subgroup and 14.57 +/-1.87 in the experimental subgroup [p < 0.001]. The mean number of chondrocytes/unit area of hyaline cartilage of sclera on day 15 was 10.02 +/-0.86 in the control subgroup and 9.54 +/-0.59 in the experimental subgroup [p=0.025]. There was disrupted ossicular formation indicating adverse effects on the development of bony sclera as well

Conclusion: Administration of glucose caused alteration in the histology of sclera in developing chick embryos

Reaffirming the importance of traditional teaching methodology from the perspective of faculty of anatomy

Objective: To reaffirm the importance of cadaveric dissection and prosected specimens in imparting knowledge of Anatomy to medical students from the perspective of faculty of anatomy

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Anatomy Department of Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad from January 2016 to March 2016

Materials and Methods: Data was collected from100 faculty members working in the Anatomy department of medical colleges of Rawalpindi and Islamabad having at least 2 years of teaching experience

Results: In spite of facing certain limitations, 60 % of the faculty considered cadaveric dissection as an indispensable tool for teaching Anatomy while 70% of the participants were of the view that combination of dissection and prosection is the best technique

Conclusion: The importance of traditional teaching methods in imparting knowledge of Anatomy cannot be undermined