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Purpose: To determine the macroscopic and microscopic ocular morphological characteristics of the African grass-cutter Materials and Methods: Ten male grasscutters of mean age 4.05 ± 1.44 months and mean weight 1.04 ± 0.56 kg were used for this study. Gross morphologic and light microscopic techniques were employed in the study of the eyes. Results: Grossly, the eye exhibited typical characteristics of the mammalian eye with a mean eye weight and mean corneal diameter of 0.47 ± 0.14 g and 0.73 ± 0.07 cm, respectively. The horizontal corneal diameter was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the vertical corneal diameter, and the ratio of mean corneal diameter to mean eye diameter (MCD:MED) was 0.80. The sclera and corneal stroma were dense fibrous connective tissues and had thicknesses of 105.3 ± 25.8 µm and 201.4 ± 91.3µm, respectively, while the corneal epithelium was stratified squamous epithelium and measured 50.1 ± 15.1µm. The choroid, ciliary stroma, and iridal stroma were pigmented connective tissues, while the retina was a multi-layered neuro-epithelial tissue with scanty ganglion cells and a retinal pigment epithelium that was pigmented throughout its length. Conclusion: The high MCD:MED and scanty retinal ganglion cells observed are associated with nocturnal visual capability. However, the complete pigmentation of the retinal pigment epitheliumsuggest the absence of tapetum lucidum in this species. This could considerably lower its nocturnal visual capability and indicate a low reliance on vision for environmental perception. The biometrical measurements obtained have made data available for use in future ocular studies of the rodent.

Eleven African giant rats were caught, bilaterally enucleated and the globes were routinely processed for light microscopy. Eye weight, vertical and horizontal corneal diameters, as well as vertical, horizontal and axial eye diameters were obtained from each globe. Observed external macroscopic ocular features were typical of mammalian eyes comprising cornea, sclera and attached extraocular muscles. The eye dimensions were however generally smaller than those of humans. The large mean corneal diameter to mean eye diameter ratio of 0.86 as well as the scanty retinal ganglion cells observed are associated with morphological adaptations for nocturnal vision. Pigments observed in the retinal epithelium suggests absence of tapetum lucidum, indicating a sub-optimal nocturnal visual capability. This study has provided scientific documentation of some ocular morphological characteristics of the giant rat and has shown that the eye of this species will be anatomically unsuitable for xenotransplantation in humans.

The leaf extract of Lasimorpha senegalensis is used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the treatment of liver disease. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the hepatoprotective ability of Lasimorpha senegalensis methanol leaf extracts on paracetamol-induced toxicity in order to validate or invalidate its traditional use in the treatment of liver disease. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectometry analysis of the extract revealed the presence of Cycloheptasiloxane tetradecamethyl- and 3, 4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol, a strong antioxidant capable of protecting the cell membrane from assaults. Thirty Wistar rats of mixed sexes were randomly assigned to six groups of five rats each. Group 1, which was the normal control received only normal saline. Groups 2-4 were pre-treated with the extract at various doses, twice daily for 4 days. Silymarin, a known hepatoprotective drug was administered in the same manner to group 5 at 100 mg/kg body weight for 4 days. One hour after the last pre-treatment on the fourth day, groups 2-6 received 2500 mg/kg of paracetamol (PCM) orally in order to induce hepatotoxicity. Eighteen hours after PCM intoxication, blood samples were collected for haematology and biochemical analyses. All the animals were sacrificed and the liver cells were harvested for histopathological examinations. The liver function markers (ALT, AST, ALP), total and direct bilirubin were estimated. This present study has shown that the extract under investigation exhibits hepatoprotective activities since they reduce cell membrane disturbances induced by PCM in the isolated liver cells of the rats. These activities were comparable with that of silymarin, a reference hepatoprotective drug.