Turkish Journal of Zoology
Turk J Zool
(2015) 39: 1160-1161
© TÜBİTAK
doi:10.3906/zoo-1408-14
http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/
Short Communication
An observation of haversian systems in Stellagama stellio (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) in Barla/Isparta, Turkey
1,
2
Meltem KUMAŞ *, Dinçer AYAZ
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University, İstanbul, Turkey
2
Section of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
1
Received: 05.08.2014
Accepted/Published Online: 27.07.2015
Printed: 30.11.2015
Abstact: In this study, we observed haversian systems on the endosteal surface of the femur bone of one male individual of Roughtail
Rock Agama, Stellagama stellio, which was collected from Barla/Isparta province of Turkey. It was observed that the haversian canal was
located on the center of the haversian systems or secondary osteons, and it was surrounded by concentric lamellae. All lamellae were
separated from each other by a cement line that stained darker than other constituents. Volkmann’s canals were not observed between
haversian canals, and other concentric lamellae were not encountered between periosteum and haversian systems. These results indicate
that remodeling can be partly seen in this species. Our study is important in terms of being the first record to demonstrate haversian
systems on the femur bone of S. stellio.
Key words: Stellagama stellio, haversian system, secondary osteon, remodeling, Turkey
Long bone development is the best tool for
understanding life styles of species. Differences in bone
structure have been correlated with the taxonomic position
of different vertebrate groups (Bennett and Ruben, 1986).
Two types of bone modeling, which are called lamellar
zonal and fibrolamellar bone, are seen in ectothermic and
endothermic species, respectively. Fibrolamellar bone
is present in endothermic vertebrates such as mammals
and birds, and it also takes place at a quicker and constant
rate. Lamellar zonal bone is found in most ectothermic
vertebrates such as amphibians and extant reptiles,
and it has a slow and variable growth rate (Köhler and
Moya-Sola, 2009). This bone takes form periodically as
a result of storage of the parallel fibrolamellar bone, and
its development stops periodically (Ricqlès et al., 1991;
de Margerie et al., 2002). Particularly in lizards among
squamate reptiles, the bone structure does not contain
lamellar systems and there is no secondary bone formation
(Pal et al., 2009).
In our previous study, we revealed that the bone
structure of Stellagama stellio was the lamellar zonal
type, the primary bone was preserved throughout life,
and secondary bone development, defined as endosteal
resorption, was rather slow. Development of a haversian
system or osteons, which were observed in only one male
individual, had not been recognized, and so the results
*Correspondence: kumasmeltem@gmail.com
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were not included in that previous study (Kumaş and
Ayaz, 2014). Therefore, the current study aims to exhibit
the presence of haversian systems in S. stellio.
The specimen was collected on 07.04.2012 from
Barla township (38.017146°N, 30.783906°E, 1194 m) in
Isparta Province of Turkey. This region is influenced by
semiterrestrial climate conditions.
For histological processes, the femur bone was fixed in
96% ethanol and decalcified by 5% nitric acid for 2–8 h
according to the size of the bone. Transverse sections of
15–20 µm were prepared using a freezing microtome, and
all sections were stained with Ehrlich’s hematoxylin for 10
min.
The study procedure was approved by Decision
No. 2011-027 of the Local Ethics Board for Animal
Experiments, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University.
In our previous study, a total of 218 specimens were
studied for determination of the long bone histology of
S. stellio (Kumaş and Ayaz, 2014). We detected secondary
osteons on the endosteal surface of the femur in only one
male individual (snout–vent length (SVL) =1148.3 mm;
Figure 1). Figure 1 was not utilized in our previous study.
In the current study, it was observed that the haversian
canal was located on the center of the haversian systems
or secondary osteons, and this canal was surrounded by
concentric lamellae. All lamellae were separated from each
KUMAŞ and AYAZ / Turk J Zool
Figure 1. Cross-section of the femur in a male individual. It is
observed that the secondary osteons are located on the endosteal
surface of the femur. Eb: endosteal bone, SO: secondary osteon.
Stain: Ehrlich’s hematoxylin. SVL = 114.83 mm.
Figure 2. Secondary osteons on the endosteal surface of the
femur. Eb: endosteal bone, SO: secondary osteon, HC: haversian
canal, arrows: cement line. Stain: Ehrlich’s hematoxylin.
other by a cement line, which stained darker than other
constituents (Figure 2). We did not observe Volkmann’s
canals between haversian canals, and other concentric
lamellae were not encountered between periosteum and
haversian systems.
There is very limited study on bone development of
species of Agamidae. It is known that growth, metabolic
activity, and bone development are very slow in lizards.
Smirina and Ananjeva (2007) stated that the majority of
recent reptiles (including agamids) have nonvascularized
bone tissue so the secondary remodeling of bone tissue
does not occur, and Pal et al. (2009) emphasized similar
results. So far, there have not been any recorded data in
the literature about the formation of haversian systems
in species of Agamidae. The purpose of this study was to
reveal that haversian systems can occur on the secondary
bone and partial resorption can be seen in S. stellio.
Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported by the Research Fund
Accountancy of Ege University, Turkey (2011FEN008).
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