Mophometric study of the aortic arch and its major branches in rat fetuses on the 21st day of gestation

Abstract

The anatomy and embryology of the aortic arch and its branching tributaries (brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery) in man and animals are well substantiated. However, the anatomical variations and morphometry of the aortic arch and its branching tributaries in rat fetus at the 21st gestation day have not been studied. Pregnant rats were hysterectomized and the arterial systems of 114 fetuses were injected with a polymerisable resin through the umbilical artery. After maceration, the vascular casts were dissected out and prepared for observations under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The resulting SEM pictures were studied with a picture analyser and different vessel parameters (diameters, lengths and angles) were measured. The success rate of the microvascular cast injection was 46.5%. Out of the 53 observed aortic arch casts, 98.1% showed the classical branching pattern and one (1.9%) had no brachiocephalic trunk. Morphological analysis showed many differences, which were not linked to the litter. The statistical processing of the measurements enabled us to determine that the aorta diameter after the branching of the left subclavian artery was the most replicable parameter. Moreover, the results revealed some strong correlations between different parameters. There are probably no discrete categories among the various observed parameters as diameters and angles. Some parameters show very little variability and can thus be used as reference points for further studies such as the comparison of a control population with a population treated with a relevant xenobiotic.

Branching Pattern of Aortic Arch in the Korean Water Deer

“…Gielecki et al [12] reported that the formation of the arteries from the Aa is complete in the early embryonic stage, and that 80.6% of human fetuses aged between 14 to 30 weeks showed a normal pattern with the same variations in 19.6% compared with adults. Monnereau et al [19] reported that 98% of 21-day old rat fetuses had the same branching pattern as adults. The diameter and length of the Aa and its arteries are dependent on age [19].…”

“…Monnereau et al [19] reported that 98% of 21-day old rat fetuses had the same branching pattern as adults. The diameter and length of the Aa and its arteries are dependent on age [19]. Unfortunately, there was an insufficient number of the Korean water deer to make a proper comparison according to each growth period such as suckling, weaning, growth, sexual maturation and adulthood.…”

“…One or more major arteries branch from the Aa with patterns differing according to the species of mammal [15]. The three major branches of the brachiocephalic trunk (Bct), left common carotid artery (LCc) and left subclavian artery (LSb), branch from the Aa in humans [4,12,20,26], Chimpanzees [6], mice [23], rats [13,19,23], hamsters [23], monotremata and sloths [20]. However, the two branches of the Bct and LSb branch from the Aa in rabbits [1,2], dogs and cats [11,21], monkeys [5,6], guinea pigs [22], pigs [10], and llamas [20].…”

Angioarchitecture of collateral arteries of the aortic arch of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758)

“…Thus, detailed anatomical descriptions of the aortic arch of the Antillean manatee are indispensable. Moreover, such descriptions may also be useful in toxicological studies, since numerous chemicals, including some drugs, may produce aortic arch malformations (Monnereau et al, ). Anatomical studies also provide information regarding the diagnosis and clinical treatment of diseases by means of complementary tests such as Doppler echocardiography and contrast radiography (Bortolini et al, ; Cabral, Ciasca, Oliveira, Vaz‐Curado, & Larsson, ).…”

The Branching Pattern of the Brachiocephalic Trunk in the Donkey (Equus asinus)

“…Depending on the species of animal, one or more arteries branch from the aortic arch. These branches in humans (Gielecki et al., ; Zamir and Sinclair, ), chimpanzees (De Garis, 1933), rats (Hebel and Stromberg, ; Monnereau et al., ), mice and hamsters (Sinzinger and Hohenecker, ) include the left common carotid artery, the left subclavian (LSb) artery and the BCT. Only the last two branches of the aortic arch has been observed in rabbits (Angell‐James, ; Baldwin, ), guinea pigs (Shively and Stump, ), pigs (Ghoshal, 1975c), dogs, cats (Ghoshal, 1975d; Rosenzweig, ) and monkeys (De Garis, , ).…”