Functional anatomy and hemodynamic characteristics of vasa vasorum in the walls of porcine coronary arteries

Abstract

In this study vasa vasorum in the walls of porcine coronary arteries were examined, using three-dimensional (3D) micro-CT scanning techniques. These techniques leave the 3D structure of the vasa vasorum tree intact and thus provide a much more direct view of this structure than is possible from conventional histological sections. The study demonstrates-for the first time, we believe-both the different types and the fine architecture of these vasa vasorum. Furthermore, with the use of automated tree analysis software, it was possible to obtain quantitative geometrical data on the 3D structure of vasa vasorum trees that have not previously been available. The results indicate that despite the restrictive topology of the space in which they are present, the branching architecture of the vasa vasorum trees, which we surveyed, is surprisingly similar to that of vasculature in general. The volume of vessel wall tissue perfused or drained by a vasa vasorum tree was found to correlate well with the cross-sectional area of the root segment of the vasa vasorum tree, and the luminal surface area corresponding to this volume was found to be comparable with the surface area of an early atherosclerotic lesion. This is consistent with earlier findings that the ligation or removal of vasa vasorum leads to atherogenesis. Anat Rec Part A 272A: 526 -537, 2003. Published 2003 Key words: vasa vasorum; vessel wall perfusion; vascular branching structure; vascular diseaseThe vasa vasorum have been the subject of considerable interest for more than a century (Koester, 1876), first because of their peculiar function (namely that of supplying blood to the walls of blood vessels), and second because of their possible role in atherogenesis

Three‐dimensional arrangement of the vasa vasorum in explanted segments of the aged human great saphenous vein: Scanning electron microscopy and three‐dimensional morphometry of vascular corrosion casts

“…Vasa vasorum either abut against the proper vessel lumen (vasa vasorum interna), against branches of the vessel, or against arteries next to the vessel (vasa vasorum externa) (Schönenberger and Mü ller, 1960;Gössl et al, 2003). In the stem of the human great saphenous vein (GSV), only vasa vasorum externa are present, whose stems penetrate the GSV every 5 to 15 mm (Kachlik et al, 2002).…”

“…In the stem of the human great saphenous vein (GSV), only vasa vasorum externa are present, whose stems penetrate the GSV every 5 to 15 mm (Kachlik et al, 2002). In arteries, the vasa vasorum drain into concomitant nearby veins (Gössl et al, 2003); in GSVs, they drain into branches of the vein proper or into concomitant veins (Kachlik et al, 2002).…”

“…A promising new technique, microcomputed tomography ( -CT) (Jorgensen et al, 1998), enables the study of the spatial arrangement of the vasa vasorum in large specimens (Lerman and Ritman, 1999;Bentley et al, 2002;Wan et al, 2002;Gössl et al, 2003), even in its frozen state (Kantor et al, 2002). In conjunction with semiautomated tree analysis software, it can provide quantitative geometrical data not yet available by other techniques (Gössl et al, 2003).…”

“…In conjunction with semiautomated tree analysis software, it can provide quantitative geometrical data not yet available by other techniques (Gössl et al, 2003). Regrettably, due to the voxel width of ϳ 20 m used in current -CT, vasa vasorum with a diameter smaller than 40 m cannot be visualized.…”

“…Regrettably, due to the voxel width of ϳ 20 m used in current -CT, vasa vasorum with a diameter smaller than 40 m cannot be visualized. Thus, -CT images lack the entire capillary bed and pre-and postcapillary vasa vasorum (Kwon et al, 1998;Gössl et al, 2003). In contrast, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts (Murakami, 1971;Lametschwandtner et al, 1984;Aharinejad and Lametschwandtner, 1992) has a sufficiently high power of resolution to visualize the entire vasa vasorum circulatory bed from the feeding arterial stem vessels throughout the capillaries to the draining venous vasa vasorum.…”