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.     

Morphology of the venous system of the heart in the van cat

Morphology of the veins draining the heart was studied in the Van cat. Veins draining the heart were the great cardiac vein, the middle cardiac vein, the right cardiac veins and the smallest cardiac veins. No anastomosis was observed between the terminal branches of the paraconal interventricular vein and the subsinuosal interventricular vein. The coronary sinus was formed by the great cardiac vein and the middle cardiac vein. The origins of the right cardiac veins had significant variations. The right semicircumflex vein was observed in three (50%) cats, and it terminated at the middle cardiac vein.     

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.     

Distribution of myocardial bridges in domestic pig

Localisation and morphology of myocardial bridges in the heart of domestic pig remain an open issue. Since these structures significantly influence haemodynamics in the coronary arteries, their occurance may lead to numerous pathologies. In the examined group of 150 domestic pig's hearts, myocardial bridges were diagnosed in 47.3% of the material, mostly in males. In majority of cases the bridges were present above the posterior interventricular branch of the right coronary artery, less often above the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery, and seldom above other blood vessels. The presence of myocardial bridges usually referred to the medial and initial segments of the arteries examined.     

A quantitative study of the circulus arteriosus cerebri of the camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The afferent vessels of the circulus arteriosus cerebri in the camel were studied quantitatively. It was found that the diameters of the arteries did not differ significantly on the left and right sides. An interesting observation was that the basilar artery contributed to the blood supply of the brain in the camel, in contrast to the situation in other ruminants.     

双峰驼肾动脉血管分布的铸型观察

运用管道铸型技术以及扫描电镜技术对双峰驼肾动脉血管进行了系统观察.结果显示,双峰驼肾动脉在入肾门前约4～8 cm处分为背干和腹干,入肾后在肾窦内相继形成肾段动脉.左右两肾段动脉的分支分布各有特点,各段动脉分支延伸至肾的皮髓交界处,形成弓形动脉;弓形动脉是叶间动脉的延续,并不与肾表面相平行;肾血管球以及出、入球微动脉因分布区域的不同,形态结构也不尽一致.表明,双峰驼肾各段动脉分布的规律性强,段动脉分支之间没有吻合支存在;肾各部位的血管球随分布区域的不同,其形态结构也呈现一定的变化.     

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.     

双峰驼肾动脉分布

应用大体解剖学和血管铸型方法,研究了12峰双峰驼肾动脉的分支分布。结果显示,肾脏的肾动脉在进入肾门之前均分成一背干和一腹干,在肾窦内,背干分为一前支,再由前、后支分别发出背部贤脏的各肾段动脉。腹干不分前、后支,而由主干直接发出腹部肾脏的各肾段动脉。不仅各肾段动脉之间未见吻合,背干及其分支与腹干及其分支之间也无吻合。左肾肾段动脉共13条,右肾肾段动脉12条。表明,双峰驼不仅左、右肾的肾动脉与肾段动脉不尽相同,各肾的背部和腹部的动脉供应也存在差异。肾动脉的背干和腹干是相对独立的。     

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.     

Pathogenesis of single right coronary artery and pulmonic stenosis in English Bulldogs

English Bulldogs are the most common breed to have pulmonic stenosis. Previous studies showed that this congenital heart abnormality in Bulldogs frequently is caused by a circumpulmonary left coronary artery originating from a single right coronary artery. Fetal anasarca also occurs often in Bulldogs and might represent congestive heart failure, but the cause is unknown. To determine if fetal anasarca is associated with a coronary anomaly and pulmonic stenosis, major coronary arteries were studied in 6 bulldog puppies with fetal anasarca. Five of the puppies had normal coronary arteries, and this led to the conclusion that fetal anasarca usually is not associated with major coronary abnormalities or pulmonic stenosis. The 6th puppy had single right coronary artery with circumpulmonary left coronary artery and moderate subvalvular pulmonic stenosis. Serial section histology suggests that the underlying cause of this syndrome is malformation of the left aortic sinus (of Valsalva) and inversion of the proximal segment of the left main coronary artery.     

Comparative macroanatomic investigations of the venous drainage of the heart in Akkaraman sheep and Angora goats

This study was carried out to evaluate the origin, course and terminations of the cardiac veins in Akkaraman sheep and Angora goats. These vessels are the great cardiac, left marginal, middle cardiac, right cardiac and smallest cardiac veins. For this purpose, latex was injected into the jugular vein of eight adult healthy Akkaraman sheep and Angora goats. These veins were dissected. It has been shown that the middle cardiac vein and great cardiac veins coursed with the branches of the coronary arteries and that they were anastomosed with each other. The venous blood from the great cardiac vein and middle cardiac veins emptied into the right atria via the coronary sinus. The venous blood from the interventricular septum was conveyed to the middle cardiac vein and great cardiac veins.     

Partial external mitral annuloplasty in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration and congestive heart failure: Outcome in 9 cases

Objective

To report the outcome of partial external mitral annuloplasty in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) due to mitral regurgitation caused by myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD).

Animals, materials and methods

Nine client-owned dogs with CHF due to mitral regurgitation caused by MMVD. Surgery consisted of a double row of pledget-butressed continuous suture lines placed into the left ventricle parallel and just ventral to the atrioventricular groove between the subsinuosal branch of the left circumflex coronary artery and the paraconal branch of the left coronary artery.

Results

Two dogs died during surgery because of severe hemorrhage. Two dogs died 12 and 36 h after surgery because of acute myocardial infarction. Three dogs were euthanized 2 and 4 weeks after surgery because of progression of CHF, 1 was euthanized 30 days after surgery for non-cardiac disease, and 1 survived for 48 months. In the 5 dogs that survived to discharge there was no significant change in the left atrium to aortic ratio with surgery (3.6 ± 0.56 before surgery; 3.1 ± 0.4 after surgery; p = 0.182), and no significant change in mitral regurgitant fraction in 4 dogs in which this measurement was made (78.7 ± 2.0% before surgery; 68.7 ± 7.5% after surgery; p = 0.09).

Conclusions

Partial external mitral annuloplasty in dogs with CHF due to MMVD was associated with high perioperative mortality and most dogs that survived to discharge failed to show clinically relevant palliation from this procedure. Consequently, partial external mitral annuloplasty is not a viable option for dogs with mitral regurgitation due to MMVD that has progressed to the stage of CHF.     

Separate origin of the main components of the left coronary artery in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

This study describes a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly in the Syrian hamster; namely, the separate origin of the obtuse marginal and left circumflex arteries which are the main components of the left coronary artery. The hearts of nine affected animals were examined by means of a corrosion-cast technique and histology. The hamsters belonged to a laboratory inbred family with a high incidence of coronary artery anomalies and bicuspid aortic valve. The aortic valve was tricuspid in three hamsters and bicuspid in the other six hamsters. In all cases, the right coronary artery was normal, whereas the left coronary artery main trunk was absent. The present anomalous coronary artery patterns could be classified into two main entities: (i) ectopic origin of the obtuse marginal artery from the right aortic sinus or from the right coronary artery, with the left circumflex artery arising from the left side of the aortic valve; and (ii) ectopic origin of both the obtuse marginal artery from the right aortic sinus or from the right coronary artery and left circumflex artery from the dorsal aortic sinus. In all cases, the obtuse marginal artery coursed to the right side of the heart through the ventral wall of the right ventricular outflow tract. When the left circumflex artery arose from the dorsal aortic sinus, it formed an acute angle with the aortic wall. This report seems to be the first to describe the separate origin of the main components of the left coronary artery in a non-human mammalian species. In man, the congenital coronary artery and aortic valve defects reported herein may entail the risk of clinical complications. However, none of the affected hamsters showed signs of disease.     

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.     

双峰驼髂内动脉的形态学观察

采用血管内灌注有色油画颜料的方法,解剖观察了双峰驼髂内动脉的分支及分布情况.髂内动脉是骨盆部动脉的主干,其分支有脐动脉、臀前动脉、闭孔动脉、臀后动脉和阴部内动脉.阴部内动脉的分支有阴道动脉、直肠中动脉、会阴腹侧动脉和阴蒂动脉.在双峰驼未见有会阴背侧动脉.还就双峰驼和其它家畜髂内动脉的解剖学特点进行了比较讨论.     

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.     

64‐MULTIDETECTOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE CANINE CORONARY ARTERIES

Canine coronary artery angiography (CTA) was performed in four anesthetized healthy dogs using 64‐multidetector computed tomography. Esmolol, a β‐1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, and sodium nitroprusside, an arteriolar and venous dilator, were administered to enhance visualization of the coronary arteries by reducing heart rate and creating vasodilation. The left main coronary artery with its three main branches and the right coronary artery were visualized and subdivided in 13 segments for evaluation. Optimal reconstruction interval, expressed as percentage of the R‐to‐R interval, was determined at 5% in 2.9%, 35% in 1%, 75% in 21.2%, 85% in 43.3%, and 95% in 31.7% of the segments. Overall image quality was good in 41.3% of the segments and excellent in 14.4%. There was blur in 98.1%, motion in 17.3%, and stair step in 6.7% of the evaluated segments, but these artifacts did not interfere with anatomic depiction of the arteries. Cross‐sectional anatomy of the coronary arteries as evaluated from the coronary CTA agreed well with gross anatomic evaluation and published information. The use of esmolol did not lead to the target heart rate of 60–65 beats/min. Nitroprusside had no significant effect on visualized length or diameter of the coronary artery branches. Coronary CTA is useful for the anatomic depiction of coronary artery branches in the dog.