ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Gills
;
Tilapia mossambica
;
Blood vessels
;
Arteriovenous anastomoses
;
Light microscopy
;
Quantitative evaluation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The non-respiratory vascular system of T. mossambica gill filaments was studied in serial longitudinal and cross sections. Comparatively few scattered vascular communications occur between the afferent filament artery and the central venous sinus (AVAaff). The efferent filament artery, however, is connected by regularly arranged anastomoses (AVAeff), directly, and sometimes indirectly via nutritive vessels, to the central sinus. These AVAeff are about as numerous as lamellae counted on one side of each filament, although they diminish slightly in number towards the filament base. The relation AVAeff to AVAaff was 17.6:1 in the distal and 17.8:1 in the basal filamental region, while in the tip region of 7 filaments 126 AVAeff but only 1 AVAaff were encountered. No direct connection between the lamellar lacunae and the central sinus was detected. According to these results, non-respiratory intrafilamental blood shunting appears unlikely. AVAeff are assumed to be the main route for blood entering the central venous sinus which would consequently flow into the branchial veins.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00307382
