Functional aspects of the morphology and vascular anatomy of the gills of the endeavour dogfish,Centrophoms scalpratus (McCulloch) (Elasmobranchii:Squalidae)

Summary

The morphology and vascular anatomy of the gills of the Endeavour dogfish,Centrophorus scalpratus, were studied by light microscopic examination of Microfil vascular casts and scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and critical point dried tissue. The anatomy of the respiratory vasculature was similar to that described for other elasmobranchs. How-ever, it was noted that approximately one-fifth of the total respiratory exchange area lay within a ventilatory deadspace, thus providing a potential respiratory by-pass shunt pathway. An extensive non-respiratory vascular bed was also present in the gills. In each gill filament there was a series of non-respiratory capillaries arising both from the afferent and efferent sides of the gill circulation (filament corpus cavernosum and efferent filament artery respectively). These capillaries eventually connected to a system of broadly interconnected sinuses in the filament termed the central canal and the afferent and efferent companion vessels. These sinuses connected with a large subepithelial sinus in the gill arch and a pair of large sinuses in the interbranchial septum. It is suggested that the non-respiratory capillaries serve a nutritive function, while the filament, septal and arch sinuses provide a venous and/or lymphatic drainage for the gills. The non-respiratory vascular bed of the gills would not function as a respiratory by-pass shunt pathway.