Microvasculature in the Terminal Air Spaces of the Lungs of the Baird's Beaked Whale (Berardius bairdii)

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

Tomo INOMATA¹  Hiroshi SHIROUZU²  Hiroyoshi NINOMIYA¹ 

[1] Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Azabu University;Taiji Whale Museum

关键词: alveolar capillaries;    Baird's whale;    corrosion cast;    lung;    venous valves;   

DOI  :  10.1292/jvms.66..1491

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Japanese Society of Veterinary Science

【 摘 要 】

References(10)Cited-By(3)Lungs were obtained from five adult Baird's beaked whales (Berardius bairdii) and examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts. The alveolar septa of these whales are thick with a connective tissue core and a bi-layer capillary bed. A double capillary network is regularly found in the alveolar duct and alveolar septa. Occasionally, septa adjacent to alveoli and alveoli themselves show only a single capillary layer. The distance between the two capillary layers has a tendency to decrease toward the end of airspaces, suggesting an end result of capillary fusion. Vascular replicas of venous vessels have annular furrows at regular intervals of 50 to 100 μm, which are caused by focal aggregations of collagen fibers circularly oriented and located immediately underneath the endothelium. The first valves appear in the collecting venules gathering alveolar capillaries. These valves are quite characteristic of flap-, funnel-and/or chimney like structures.

【 授权许可】

Unknown