The Stapedial Artery in the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Abstract

The persistent stapedial artery is a component of the main arterial roads of the head in some animal groups (Frąckowiak: Roczn Akad Roln Poznań 336 (2003) 1-81). This type of vascularization occurs in the Mongolian gerbil, among others. The stapedial artery is common in a variety of forms in rodents. It has been described, for example, in Sciuridae, Muridae, Heteromyidae, Geomyidae, Splacidae, Cricetidae, Arvicolinae, and in genus Jaculus (Cox and Hautier: Evolution of the Rodents: Advances in phylogeny, Functional Morphology and Development, 2015). The aim of this study was the analysis of morphology, and of course, of the stapedial artery in this species. Investigations were performed on 10 animals of both sexes, weighing 50-60 g. After lethal anesthesia, the vascular system of every animal was filled with colored latex. After latex coagulation and decalcification of skull bones, fixed tissues were delicately prepared, and the head vascular system was exposed. The stapedial artery separates from the internal carotid artery, runs toward the auditory bulb and passes through the stapes. After the branching of the medial meningeal artery, the stapedial artery runs rostrally, forming its infraorbital branch. This branch, in the further course, gives the branch forming the short trunk of the ophthalmic artery, which supplies orbital structures (muscles, lacrimal gland, Harderian gland, and eyeball). The performed investigations revealed that the maintained infraorbital branch of the stapedial artery is the only source of arterial supply of the orbit in this species. Anat Rec, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Morphometry and Variability of the Brain Arterial Circle in Chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger, Molina)

“…The arterial circle of brain (ACBr) is a very important vascular pathway of the brain. Anatomocomparative studies of vessels responsible for cerebral blood flow and their anatomical variants occurring in different fauna may facilitate better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the proper function or dysfunction of this system (Kapoor et al, , Szczurkowski et al, , Kuchinka et al, , Kowiański et al, ). Studies allowing for the determination of organization, distribution, and potential differences in the blood vessels within the base of the brain may also provide a contribution to the phylogenesis and ontogenesis of cerebral arteries (Bugge ).…”

Arterial Circle of the Brain of the Red-Necked Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus)

“…Similar observations have been made in the representatives of the Carnivora: domestic dog [ 17 , 18 ], dingo, arctic fox, red fox, pale fox [ 19 ], and silver fox [ 20 , 21 ]; Perissodactyla : horse [ 17 , 22 ], Przewalski’s horse, Grévy’s zebra, Grant’s zebra, Mongolian khulan, donkey, and South American tapir [ 22 ]; lagomorphs: European rabbit [ 23 ] and European brown hare [ 24 ]; as well as Old and New World camels: Bactrian camel, guanaco, lama [ 25 ], and dromedary camel [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Among rodents, only some of the described species were found to have an internal carotid artery: agouti [ 28 ], Mongolian gerbil [ 29 ], European beaver [ 30 ], Egyptian spiny mouse [ 31 ], and rat [ 32 ]. In Habermehl’s [ 18 ] description of this vessel, there is information about the presence of a carotid sinus in the dog.…”

Applicability of vital staining and tissue clearing to vascular anatomy and melanocytes' evaluation of temporal bone in six laboratory species

“…Second, the course of the stapedial artery as it traverses the temporal bone has not been evaluated. We know the stapedial artery after its origin from the internal carotid artery provides the vasculature to the supraorbital, infraorbital and mandibular area (Kuchinka, ). But if reduced circulation from the anterior circulation does not produce cochlea ischaemia then a secondary system must exist to provide blood flow from the stapedial artery to the labyrinth.…”