Coronary arteries of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus; Linnaeus 1758) heart

A study of the coronary arteries of the roe deer heart was performed on 21 hearts of animals of both sexes and various ages. The roe deer heart is supplied by two arteries: the left coronary artery and the right coronary artery. The left coronary artery arises from the left aortic sinus and forms a short common trunk. The left coronary artery reaches the coronary groove, then divides into the paraconal interventricular branch and the circumflex branch. The circumflex branch gives off several branches to the left ventricle wall and terminates in the subsinuosal interventricular groove as the subsinuosal interventricular branch. The right coronary artery is less pronounced than the left coronary artery. It arises from the right aortic sinus and enters the coronary groove as the right circumflex branch. We found the left arterial cone branch in 75% and the right arterial cone branch in 80% of the cases investigated. The coronary arteries of the heart run subepicardially. In 9 cases we found muscular bridges over the coronary arteries, mostly on the paraconal interventricular branch. In conclusion we affirm the left type of the arterial vascularisation in the roe deer heart.     

The Coronary Arteries of the Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The pattern of distribution of the coronary arteries of the camel was studied by combining dissection and vinyl acetate casts. The results showed that in the camel the right coronary artery supplies the interventricular subsinuosal artery, characteristic of a right coronary pattern. The septal branch that supplied the interventricular septum originated from the paraconal interventricular artery. A muscular bridge was observed crossing each of the paraconal and subsinuosal interventricular arteries in the middle third of the longitudinal grooves.     

Myocardial bridges in domestic pig--morphological aspects

The morphology of myocardial bridges (MB) in the heart of the domestic pig remain an open issue. Despite numerous analyses of the subject, many controversies still exist. Opinions also differ when the influence of the MB on haemodynamic processes in the coronal vessel system is concerned. In the examined group of 150 domestic pig's hearts, the length of the detected MB varied from 1.8 to 39.7 mm while their thickness amounted to 0.8 - 4.7 mm. Both the longest and the thickest bridges were connected with the posterior interventricular branch. It was noticed that the MB muscle bands cross the long axis of the vessels located in the grooves mostly at almost a right angle. Three forms of perivascular space were educed using the criterion of the distance of the vessel from the surrounding muscularis externa.     

Macroanatomy of coronary arteries in Bactrian camel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelus bactrianus</Emphasis>)

The aim of present study was to determine the origin, distribution and course of the coronary arteries in Bactrian camels. Ten hearts of adult healthy Bactrian camels of different sex constituted the material. Following exposition of the arteries by means of injection of 15% ABS coloured with red carmine to a. coronaria sinistra and a. coronaria dextra, dissection was performed. The arterial vascularization of the heart in Bactrian camels was determined to be supplied by a. coronaria sinistra and a. coronaria dextra which originate from the aorta. The results showed that ramus interventricularis subsinuosus is one branch of a. coronaria dextra in Bactrian camels, which is characteristic of a. coronaria dextra pattern. Ramus septi interventricularis that supplied the interventricular septum mainly originates from ramus interventricular paraconalis. Two muscular bridges ware observed crossing ramus interventricular paraconalis in the middle third of sulcus interventricularis paraconalis. Muscular bridge was not found above ramus interventricularis subsinuosus in this study.     

The right coronary artery is absent in the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

A total of 10 adult, healthy, male chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) were used to investigate the origin, course, and termination of the coronary arteries. Coloured latex was injected into the carotid arteries following conventional anatomical applications. In all the chinchillas examined, the left coronary artery was the single coronary artery. The right coronary artery was missing. Additionally, a small vessel originating from the cranial border of the aorta was observed in one chinchilla. The left coronary artery divided into the paraconal, interventricular and left circumflex rami. The left marginis ventricular ramus arose from the paraconal interventricular ramus in eight chinchillas, and from the left circumflex ramus in two. The ventricular and septal branches of the left coronary artery ran subepicardially at the beginning mostly parallel to the muscle fibres, also surrounded by a thin adipose tissue. It was concluded that the only left coroner artery supplied blood to the heart in the chinchilla.     

Macroscopic description of the coronary arteries in Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus)

A total of 25 (13 male, 12 female) adult, healthy Swiss albino mice were used to investigate the origin, course and anastomoses of coronary arteries. Coloured latex was injected into the aortic arch to enable these arteries to be clearly discerned. A. coronaria sinistra was larger than A. coronaria dextra. It was divided into a Ramus interventricularis paraconalis and a Ramus circumflexus sinister. However, in 2 specimens, the septal ramus, was observed to stem directly from the left coronary artery, and only 1 ventricular branch arose from the left circumflex. The collateral branches of the paraconal interventricular ramus had a larger diameter and more extensive distribution was observed in these specimens. The A. coronaria dextra was divided into a Ramus septalis and Ramus circumflexus dexter. The Ramus interventricularis subsinuosis was not detected in this study. The ventricular branches of the left coronary artery run intramyocardially whereas the branches of the right coronary artery course subendocardially.     

The arrangement of the coronary artery trunks is subject to inheritance factors: A study in Syrian hamsters

The concept that anatomical variations in the coronary artery tree might be influenced by genes is relatively old. However, empirical evidence on the effect of genotype on the coronary morphology is still scarce. In the Syrian hamster, there is a septal coronary artery which arises from the left or from the right coronary artery and supplies most of the interventricular septum. The aim was to decide whether the anatomical origin of the septal artery is subject to inheritance factors. Overall, 483 internal casts of the heart and coronary arteries were examined. All the hamsters included in this study had normal coronary arteries. The results of 74 crosses were compared statistically to seek for any significant difference between the phenotypes of the offspring and the phenotypes of the parents. The left septal artery was over‐represented in the offspring of crosses between parents having both a left septal artery (p < .01), while the right septal artery was over‐represented in the offspring of crosses between parents, one with a right and the other with a left septal artery (p < .001), and, more markedly, in the offspring of crosses between parents both with a right septal artery (p < .001). These results are the first to reveal that the coronary artery pattern is influenced by genetic factors, at least in its proximal portion with regard to the aorta.     

Rudimentary Coronary Artery in Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Congenital underdevelopment of one or more main branches of the coronary arteries has been reported in man, but not in non-human mammals. In man, this defective coronary artery arrangement may cause myocardial ischaemia and even sudden death . The main goal of this study was to describe the coronary artery distribution patterns associated with the presence of a markedly underdeveloped (rudimentary) coronary artery in Syrian hamsters. Moreover, an attempt was made to explain the morphogenesis of these patterns, according to current knowledge on coronary artery development. Eleven affected hamsters belonging to a laboratory inbred family were examined by means of internal casts of the heart, great arterial trunks and coronary arteries. The aortic valve was tricuspid (normal) in seven hamsters and bicuspid in the other four. A rudimentary coronary artery arose from the right side of the aortic valve in four specimens, from the left side of the aortic valve in a further three, and from the dorsal aortic sinus in the remaining four. In all cases, a second, well-developed coronary artery provided for all the coronary blood flow. Except for the existence of a rudimentary coronary artery, the present anomalous coronary artery distribution patterns are similar to coronary artery patterns reported in Syrian hamsters, dogs and humans in association with a solitary coronary ostium in aorta. We suggest that an unusual prolonged time interval in the development of the embryonic coronary stems might be a key factor in the formation of coronary arteries displaying significantly dissimilar developmental degrees.     

Studies on the changes in myocardial oxygen tension

An arterial oxygen tension (PO2) sensor was used to measure the myocardial PO2 at three sites in the left ventricle supplied by the paraconal interventricular branch of the left coronary artery, cranial descending coronary artery (CDCA): a subendocardial site, a subepicardial site and an intermediate point in the left ventricular wall. At first, the PO2 sensor had been compared with the values from a blood gas analyzer. The regression equation Y = 1.4X-4.9 with a correlation coefficient of 0.993 indicated a high correlation between these two measurements. The PO2 of the arterial blood in the left ventricular cavity was assigned an index value of 100%. The PO2 was about 70% in the subendocardial myocardium, about 15% in the mid-ventricular wall myocardium and 9% in the subepicardial myocardium, demonstrating a decreasing PO2 gradient from the endocardial to the epicardial surface. A transient occlusion of the CDCA confirmed the pathway of myocardial oxygen supply. In the mid-ventricular and subepicardial myocardium, marked hypoxia occurred after occlusion of the CDCA. Release of the occlusion resulted in a rapid return to the normal PO2 level. The oxygen supply to these sites is strongly influenced by coronary artery blood flow. The PO2 in the subendocardial myocardium was not dependent on the cranial descending coronary artery. Oxygen appears to be probably supplied through arterial blood in the left ventricle via the endocardium.     

Number of coronary ostia in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) with normal and anomalous coronary arteries

Little attention is being paid to the presence of accessory coronary artery ostia in man and non-human mammals due to their limited clinical relevance. However, information about their frequency and the cardiac territories irrigated by the vessels arising from them is of interest to obtain an accurate survey of the establishment of the coronary artery system in each species. The aim here was to compare the incidence and significance of the accessory coronary ostia in Syrian hamsters with normal coronary arteries and several coronary anomalies characterized by the absence of a left coronary artery originating from the left aortic sinus. The hearts from 2829 hamsters were examined using a corrosion-cast technique, micro-dissection, histochemical techniques, and scanning electron microscopy. Overall, 148 specimens displayed accessory ostia. A limited number of them belonged to the conal artery which supplies the wall of the right ventricular outflow tract. The other accessory ostia led to the septal artery, a vessel which irrigates the most part of the interventricular septum. The incidence of accessory ostia in normal and anomalous coronary artery patterns was quite similar. This suggests that the morphogenetic deviations producing the coronary artery anomalies reported in this study do not alter the connections of the septal and conal arteries to the aorta. The present observations lead to the notion that in the Syrian hamster, the septal artery should be regarded as a third coronary artery.     

Antiarrhythmic effects of diazepam during coronary artery occlusion in dogs.

The ventral interventricular branch of the left coronary artery was ligated in a 2-step operation in 10 dogs whose electrocardiograms and systemic arterial blood pressures were then monitored during the next 7 days. Monitoring was done in awake dogs given 1 mg of diazepam per kilogram of body weight (intravenously administered in 3 dogs and orally in 7). Because ventricualr ectopic activity was greatest during the interval of 10 to 48 hours after ligation, the antiarrhythmic activity of diazepam was recorded during this 38-hour interval. After administration of diazepam by either route, frequency of ventricular ectopic beats decreased from 98 to 80%. THIS REDUCTION BETAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION AND PERSISTED FOR ONLY 5 MINUTES; REDUCTION BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER THE ORAL ADMINISTRATION AND PERSISTED 4 TO 6 HOURS. Systemic arterial blood pressure decreased only after the intravenous administration. It is concluded that diazepam is effective in reducing the frequency of ventricular ectopic activity after occlusion of major branches of coronary arteries, that diazepam works independent of alterations in systemic arterial blood pressure, and that orally administered diazepam prolongs antiarrhythmic activity. Possibly, the adjuvants present in the parenteral form of diazepam reduce antiarrhythmic activity by being, themselves, arrhythmogenic.     

Anatomical and Morphometric Variations in the Arterial System of the Domestic Cat

We document the anatomical architecture and frequency of occurrence of variations in the branching pattern of the brachiocephalic artery and the origin of the internal iliac arteries in the domestic cat, a widely used model organism in both anatomical training and research. Based on the study of 56 preserved specimens, we observed three distinct arrangements in the branching pattern of the brachiocephalic artery. The most common pattern (52% of the examined specimens) was that in which the brachiocephalic artery was divided into two branches, the left common carotid artery and a common branch for the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery. The frequency of occurrence of each variation type was independent of the gender and body size. The internal iliac arteries originated caudal to the point at which the external iliac arteries branched off from the abdominal aorta. However, the portion of the abdominal aorta between the external and internal iliac arteries varied greatly in length and was not significantly correlated with its width, nor with body size or gender. This study is the first to report and quantify the occurrence of such variations in North American cats. Given the anatomical similarity between the cat and other felids, the results of this study can be applied to other species, including endangered species.     

A systematic study of brain base arteries in the wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)

This study aimed at describing and systematizing the arteries of the base of the brain of the wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa). Thirty-three heads were used, of which 30 were injected with latex, and three with acrylic dental resin through the common carotid arteries. The brain carotid artery arose from the rostral epidural rete mirabile, and divided into a rostral and a caudal branch. The rostral branch gave off the middle cerebral artery and then continued as rostral cerebral artery. The latter branched into lateral rhinal, internal ethmoidal and medial rhinal arteries. The rostral cerebral artery joined its contralateral homologue, becoming the single rostral inter-hemispheric artery. The caudal branch emitted the caudal cerebral artery and the tectal arteries, and then fused with the branch of the opposite antimere, joining the basilar artery. The rostral cerebellar arteries derived from this point. The basilar artery originated from the anastomosis between the arteries derived from the caudal epidural rete mirabile of each antimere. The basilar artery extended rostrally, giving off as main collateral branch the caudal cerebellar artery. The basilar artery presented a significant decrease in diameter before joining the caudal branches of the brain carotid arteries. The cerebral arterial circle was rostrally and caudally closed.     

大黄醇提液抗家兔实验性动脉粥样硬化作用的病理形态学研究

将30只雄性健康新西兰白兔随机分为5组,每组6只。对照组给予基础饲料;模型组给予高脂饲料;三个大黄组给予高脂饲料同时分别用不同药量的大黄醇提液灌胃。于第10周末处死家兔,观察、测量和比较主动脉弓、胸主动脉、腹主动脉和髂动脉分支处血管脂质斑块的病理变化,计算斑块面积占胸主动脉的百分比;光镜下观察心脏冠状血管的病理改变,并计算冠状小动脉粥样硬化的发生率,研究大黄醇提液抑制家兔动脉粥样硬化形成的作用。结果显示：大黄醇提液能一定程度上抑制家兔主动脉及腹主动脉AS形成,减少AS斑块面积,降低动脉分支处AS的发生率,减轻心脏冠状动脉AS的病变。     

Unexpected death in an adult dog with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk

A two-year-old female miniature poodle died unexpectedly while romping with its owner. Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the left pulmonic sinus was discovered at necropsy. Histologically, the right ventricle was unremarkable, but multifocal to coalescing necrosis and fibrosis occurred in the myocardium and endocardium of the left ventricle. Medial hypertrophy of small muscular pulmonary arteries was observed in the lung. The cardiac lesions were similar to those of children with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. Pulmonary hypertension, which is suggested by the pulmonary arterial medial hypertrophy, could have increased left ventricular myocardial perfusion and delayed the ischemic myocardial damage that resulted in the death of this dog.     

Arteries of the Carotid Body in Rats

The arterial blood supply of 40 carotid bodies in 20 Wistar rats of both sexes, aged 10-12 weeks (250-350 g), was examined by light microscopy. The carotid bodies of all rats were supplied by only one carotid body artery. The average diameter of the carotid body arteries was 40 microns. This artery arose either from the external carotid artery (97.5%) or the occipital artery (2.5%). There was an intimal cushion at the origin of the carotid body artery. The carotid body artery, after reaching the caudal pole of the carotid body, divided into the first-order branch. In the carotid body, the paranchyma was divided into the second-order branch. The carotid body artery was of the muscular type.     

The Hindlimb Arterial Vessels in Lowland paca (Cuniculus paca,Linnaeus 1766)

This study aims to describe the origin and distribution of the hindlimb arterial vessels. Five adult lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca) were used. Stained and diluted latex was injected, caudally to the aorta. After fixation in 10% paraformaldehyde for 72 h, we dissected to visualize and identify the vessels. It was found out that the vascularization of the hindlimb in lowland paca derives from the terminal branch of the abdominal aorta. The common iliac artery divides into external iliac and internal iliac. The external iliac artery emits the deep iliac circumflex artery, the pudendal epigastric trunk, the deep femoral artery; the femoral artery originates the saphenous artery, it bifurcates into cranial and caudal saphenous arteries. Immediately after the knee joint, the femoral artery is called popliteal artery, which divides into tibial cranial and tibial caudal arteries at the level of the crural inter‐osseous space. The origin and distribution of arteries in the hindlimb of lowland paca resembles that in other wild rodents, as well as in the domestic mammals.     

Arterial Vascularization of the Gastrointestinal Tract of the Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus,Linnaeus, 1758)

Based on gross dissection of fifteen adult animals (11 females, 4 males), we described the arterial supply of the stomach and intestines of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), a South American endangered species. The coeliac artery emitted the splenic, left gastric and hepatic arteries. The splenic artery directed towards the spleen, and the right ruminal artery, which is its only collateral directed towards the stomach, being the main artery of the rumen. The left gastric artery gave origin to the left ruminal, the reticular and the left gastroepiploic arteries. The left gastroepiploic artery originated the reticular accessory artery. Both arteries, gastric and left gastroepiploic, anastomosed their right counterparts derived from the hepatic artery on the curvatures of the abomasum. The cranial mesenteric artery irrigated the second half of the duodenum until the beginning of the descending colon. The thickest branch emitted by the cranial mesenteric artery was the ileocolic artery, which was destined to the ascending colon, caecum and ileum. The colic branches and the right colic arteries were irradiated on the right surface of the spiral loop of the ascending colon and distributed to both centripetal and centrifugal coils of the ascending colon; the colic branches were also anastomosed with the last jejunals and ileals and with the right colic arteries. There were no variations in the origin of any of the main branches derived from the coeliac and cranial mesenteric arteries. This species had a basic pattern of arterial distribution similar to small domestic ruminants.     

Macroanatomic investigations of the blood supply of thoracic limb of Kangal dogs

In this study, the arterial supply of the thoracic limb was investigated in Kangal dogs. Twelve adult healthy Kangal dogs of either sex were used. Latex was injected into the common carotid artery, and then the axillary artery was dissected. The axillary artery is a continuation of the subclavian artery and supplies the thoracic limb in Kangal dogs. The axillary artery gave off a deltoid branch and external thoracic, lateral thoracic, and subscapular thoracic arteries in its course along the thoracic wall. The axillary artery continues distally as the brachial artery in the arm. The brachial artery gives rise to the cranial humeral circumflex, deep brachial, bicipital, ulnar collateral, superficial brachial, transverse cubital, and common interosseus arteries. It continues as the median artery after giving off the common interosseus artery. It was observed that the deep antebrachial artery arose from the median artery at the proximal third of the forearm. In the distal third of the forearm, the median artery divided into the palmar carpal and dorsal carpal branches. The deep palmar branch of the radial artery and deep branch of the palmar branch of the caudal interosseus artery form the deep palmar arch. The median artery joined the superficial branch of the palmar branch of the caudal interosseus artery to constitute the superficial palmar arch. The radial artery and cranial interosseus artery contributed to the dorsal carpal rete. The ulnar artery contributed to the formation of the deep and superficial palmar arches.     

Macroscopic features of the arterial supply to the reproductive system of the male ostrich (Struthio camelus)

The macroscopic features of the arterial supply to the reproductive system of the male ostrich was studied in 16 pre-pubertal and eight sexually mature and active birds. The left and right cranial renal arteries arise from the aorta, between the cranial divisions of the kidneys. These vessels supply the cranial divisions of the kidneys, the testes, the epididymides and the cranial segments of the ducti deferentia. Accessory testicular arteries which arise directly from the aorta are present in 45.8% of the specimens. They supply the testes and cranial parts of the ducti deferentia. They are variable in number and origin, and four variants are identified. A cranial ureterodeferential branch originates from the cranial renal artery, supplies the cranial portion of the ductus deferens and ureter, and runs caudally to anastomose with the middle renal artery. The sciatic artery arises laterally from the aorta, just caudal to the acetabulum, and gives rise, ventrally, to a common trunk, the common renal artery, which divides into the middle and caudal renal arteries. The middle renal artery gives rise to the middle ureterodeferential branch which supplies the middle part of the ductus deferens and ureter. A few centimetres caudal to the kidney, the aorta terminates in three branches, namely, the left and right internal iliac arteries and the median caudal artery. The internal iliac artery divides into the lateral caudal artery and the pudendal artery; the latter gives off caudal ureterodeferential branches that supply the caudal segments of the ductus deferens and ureter. In addition, the pudendal artery gives off vessels that supply the cloaca, some of which continue to the base of the phallus, where they form an arterial network. In conclusion, the pattern of the blood supply to the reproductive organs of the male ostrich is, in general, similar to that of the domestic fowl and pigeon, although there are a few highlighted distinctive features.