1. Macrowear effects of external quartz abrasives of different size and concentration in rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus )
- Author
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Martin, Louise F, Ackermans, Nicole L, Richter, Henning, Kircher, Patrick R, Hummel, Jürgen, Codron, Daryl, Clauss, Marcus, Hatt, Jean-Michel, University of Zurich, and Martin, Louise F
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,10253 Department of Small Animals ,Evolution ,Computed tomography ,Silt ,Biology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,1309 Developmental Biology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Animal science ,1311 Genetics ,Behavior and Systematics ,stomatognathic system ,Sand ,Cheek teeth ,Genetics ,medicine ,Animals ,Maxillary central incisor ,Quartz ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,030304 developmental biology ,2. Zero hunger ,0303 health sciences ,630 Agriculture ,Ecology ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Diet ,stomatognathic diseases ,1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Tooth wear ,1313 Molecular Medicine ,11404 Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services ,570 Life sciences ,biology ,Molecular Medicine ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Rabbits ,Tooth Wear ,1103 Animal Science and Zoology ,Tooth ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
External quartz abrasives are one of the driving forces of macrowear in herbivorous animals. We tested to what extent different sizes and concentrations influence their effect on tooth wear. We fed seven pelleted diets varying only in quartz concentration (0%, 4%, and 8%) and size (fine silt: ∼4 μm, coarse silt: ∼50 μm, fine sand: ∼130 μm) to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, n = 16) for 2 weeks each in a randomized serial experiment. Measurements to quantify wear and growth of incisors and the mandibular first cheek tooth, as well as heights of all other cheek teeth, were performed using calipers, endoscopic examination, and computed tomography scans before and after each feeding period. Tooth growth showed a compensatory correlation with wear. Absolute tooth height (ATH) and relative tooth height (RTH); relative to the 0% quartz "control" diet) was generally lower on the higher concentration and the larger size of abrasives. The effect was more pronounced on the maxillary teeth, on specific tooth positions and the right jaw side. When offered the choice between different sizes of abrasives, the rabbits favored the silt diets over the control and the fine sand diet; in a second choice experiment with different diets, they selected a pelleted diet with coarse-grained sand, however. This study confirms the dose- and size-dependent wear effects of external abrasives, and that hypselodont teeth show compensatory growth. The avoidance of wear did not seem a priority for animals with hypselodont teeth, since the rabbits did not avoid diets inducing a certain degree of wear.
- Published
- 2021