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First published online August 25, 2003

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The Journal of Experimental Biology 206, 3311-3326 (2003)
doi: 10.1242/jeb.00575

Form and function of the bulbus arteriosus in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and blue marlin (Makaira nigricans): static properties

Marvin H. Braun^1,*, Richard W. Brill², John M. Gosline³ and David R. Jones⁴

¹ Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EJ
² Cooperative Marine Education and Research Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, PO Box 1208, Greate Rd, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA
³ Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
⁴ Zoology Animal Care, 6199 South Campus Road, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1W5

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: mhb31{at}cam.ac.uk)

Accepted 22 June 2003

The juxtaposition of heart and gills in teleost fish means that the Windkessel function characteristic of the whole mammalian arterial tree has to be subserved by the extremely short ventral aorta and bulbus arteriosus. Over the functional pressure range, arteries from blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) have J-shaped pressure-volume (P-V) loops, while bulbi from the same species have r-shaped P-V loops, with a steep initial rise followed by a compliant plateau phase. The steep initial rise in pressure is due to the geometry of the lumen. The interactions between radius, pressure and tension require a large initial pressure to open the bulbar lumen for flow. The plateau is due to the unique organization of the bulbar wall. The large elastin:collagen ratio, limited amount of collagen arranged cirumferentially, lack of elastin lamellae and low hydrophobicity of the elastin itself all combine to lower stiffness, increase extensibility and allow efficient recoil. Even though the modulus of bulbus material is much lower than that of an artery, at large volumes the overall stiffness of the bulbus increases rapidly. The morphological features that give rise to the special inflation characteristics of the bulbus help to extend flow and maintain pressure during diastole.

Key words: bulbus arteriosus, P-V loop, r-shaped curve, stress, modulus, tuna, marlin, Thunnus, Makaira

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