A team of scientists from the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) has discovered that some chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have a bone in the heart, which could be vital to monitor their health and conservation. Yes indeed; very few species of animals have this curious bone, making it a particularly rare find. The research has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Using high-resolution scans to analyze the structure of the cardiac skeleton (the dense connective tissue that supports the heart) of the great apes using microcomputed tomography, the experts noticed calcifications growing in the hearts of some chimpanzees. This high-power technology allowed the team to compare the structure and morphology of each heart while considering age, cause of death, sex, and the presence of significant comorbidities.
Detailed analysis of the hearts of a group of 16 chimpanzees that were either healthy or affected by heart disease revealed for the first time that primates have a unique bone in their heart that can play a key role in the onset of heart disease, abnormal rhythms and even “sudden death”. The discovery could help manage health and conservation measures for endangered populations.
Known as “os cordis”, this bone measures a few millimeters and is also present in other animals, particularly bovines such as cattle, oxen and buffalo (although it can also appear in sheep, otters, dogs or even giraffes).
Researchers at Nottingham College of Veterinary Medicine and Science note that the bone was found in chimpanzees with a type of heart disease called idiopathic myocardial fibrosis , one of the most important causes of death in captive great apes and a type of heart disease. that can occur in both chimpanzees and humans.
Each heart diagnosed with heart disease (13 of the 16 chimps) also showed bone or cartilage formation , as well as elevated levels of collagen in the tissues adjacent to the bone or cartilage.
Could humans have this bone too?
“The discovery of a new bone in a species is a rare event, especially in chimpanzees that have an anatomy so similar to that of people. It raises the question of whether some people could also have an os cordis, ” said the lead author, Dr. Catrin. Rutland of the University.
Nothing like this has ever been identified in chimpanzees before, or in any other great ape , leading the research team to speculate on human anatomy.
Wild chimpanzees are considered endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and cardiovascular disease is common, affecting more than three-quarters of the adult chimpanzees that died in captivity between 1990 and 2003. In humans, mineralization of the cardiac skeleton is generally due to age and is associated with cardiovascular disease.
“Finding ways to help chimpanzees with heart disease is essential. Understanding what is happening to their hearts helps us control their health,” said study co-author Sophie Moittié.
Referencia: Sophie Moittié, Kerstin Baiker, Victoria Strong, Emma Cousins, Kate White, Mátyás Liptovszky, Sharon Redrobe, Aziza Alibhai, Craig J. Sturrock, Catrin Sian Rutland. Discovery of os cordis in the cardiac skeleton of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Scientific Reports, 2020; 10 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66345-7
