ARTHROGRYPOSIS AND ASSOCIATED DEFECTS IN A NEWBORN CALF

Clinical, gross and histological changes of a newborn calf affected with arthrogryposis are discussed. Examination of the foetus revealed muscular dystrophy and generalized articular rigidity of head, neck and the joints of limbs. There were severe strictures with deformed joints and ankylosis ofthe limbs. Hypoplasia of the skeletal muscles was another feature. The vertebral column was strongly curved to the right side and the anal opening was located in the dorsal midline, about 2 cm anterior to the line joining the points of buttocks. The thoracic cavity was very short and showed lung hypoplasia. Histologically, the spinal cord showed severe atrophic changes. The ependymal lining of the central canal was not continuous. Ventral horn cells were very few and showed degenerative changes. In the skeletal muscle. the sarcoplasmic area was replaced by lipids and in stained preparations, peripherally located nuclei and vacant sarcoplasm without any myofibrils could be located. The possible etiological factors are discussed.