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First published online August 23, 2004
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 3339-3348 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01164

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Structural basis for control of secondary vessels in the long-finned eel Anguilla reinhardtii

Peter Vilhelm Skov^* and Michael Brian Bennett

School of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia

View larger version (116K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. (A) Scanning electron micrograph showing the dense arrangement of specialised endothelial cells bearing microvilli, which project into the lumen of the primary segmental artery. Scale bar, 10 µm. (B) High magnification illustrating the common origin of several microvilli from a single endothelial cell. Scale bar, 5 µm.

View larger version (112K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Light micrograph of the origin of interarterial anastomoses (iaas) from a segmental artery. Anastomoses originate as depressions through the endothelial (E) and medial (M) layer of the primary vessel. Anastomoses follow a linear perpendicular path to the outer margin of the adventitial (A) layer, where they coil extensively (*). Note the numerous microvilli (arrowheads). Scale bar, 10 µm. Lissamine Fast Red, 4 µm section.

View larger version (132K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. (A-D) Light micrographs of consecutive sections through a segmental artery (sg.a.) taken 8 µm apart, showing the connection between interarterial anastomoses (iaas) and secondary vessels (SV). The vessel path from the coiled region of iaas (arrowheads in D) is denoted by stippled arrows in A. Note the numerous nerve bundles (Ne) in association with secondary vessels. Scale bar, 100 µm. Lissamine Fast Red, 2 µm section.

View larger version (103K): [in a new window]   Fig. 4. (A) Light micrograph of lateral collecting vessel, showing a thick endothelial layer, but no distinct medial layer. The vessel sits within a tube of dense connective tissue, formed by two opposed crescent-shaped structures. Numerous blood vessels are readily observed within the `adventitial' layer (arrowheads). Scale bar, 100 µm. Lissamine Fast Red, 5 µm section. (B) Transmission electron micrograph of the lateral collecting vessel shows that the endothelial cell layer (EC) sits on an elastic lamina (EL), and there is no presence of smooth muscle cells in the vessel. Leukocytes can be seen migrating through the endothelial layer (arrowheads). Blood vessels are frequently seen within the adventitial layer of the vessel wall. Scale bar, 20 µm.

View larger version (118K): [in a new window]   Fig. 5. (A) Transmission electron micrograph of the wall of a primary segmental artery (sg.a.) showing the structure in a coil from an anastomosis. Here, the vessel lumen is lined by a single endothelial cell (EC) on a continuous basement membrane, and is typically only associated with a single smooth muscle cell (SM). Scale bar, 10 µm. (B) This is also the case for secondary vessels, which in all aspects have a structure quite similar to that of primary vessels. Scale bar, 10 µm.

View larger version (73K): [in a new window]   Fig. 6. 5-HT immunoreactivity of interarterial anastomoses iaas (*) and a secondary vessel (SV).