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First published online February 12, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 815-824 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.001867
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Morphometry of retinal vasculature in Antarctic fishes is dependent upon the level of hemoglobin in circulation

Jody M. Wujcik1, George Wang2, Joseph T. Eastman3 and Bruce D. Sidell1,*

1 School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, 5751 Murray Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5751, USA
2 Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA
3 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, USA


Figure 1
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  		Fig. 1. Representative digital images of the hyaloid arteries on the vitrad surface of the retina of Champsocephalus gunnari, a white-blooded channichthyid. (A) Original digital image; (B) cropped image; (C) binary image; (D) binary image with superimposed concentric circle overlay. Grid spacing between successive circles is fixed at 0.5 mm and red markings indicate vessel–grid intersections. The asterisk denotes the optic disc and the arrow indicates the retractor lentis muscle in image A. Scale bars, 3 mm (A); 2 mm (B–D).

 

Figure 2
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  		Fig. 2. Representative digital images of the hyaloid vessels on the vitrad surface of the retina of two species of channichthyid fishes (–Hb). (A) Chaenocephalus aceratus; (B) Champsocephalus gunnari. The cornea, iris, lens and vitreous body were removed to allow viewing of the hyaloid vasculature. The arteries arise from 4–5 main branches and form an extensive series of parallel anastomosing channels. Blood vessels were filled with yellow MicrofilTM. Scale bars, 3 mm.

 

Figure 3
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  		Fig. 3. Representative digital images of the hyaloid vessels on the vitrad surface of the retina of two species of bathydraconid fishes (+Hb). (A) Gymnodraco acuticeps; (B) Parachaenichthyes charcoti. The cornea, iris, lens and vitreous body were removed to allow viewing of the hyaloid vasculature, here exemplifying a dense and an intermediate radial pattern, respectively. Hyaloid arteries are seen draining to the annular vein (indicated by arrow) in B. Blood vessels were filled with yellow MicrofilTM. Scale bars, 3 mm (A); 2 mm (B).

 

Figure 4
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  		Fig. 4. Representative digital images of the hyaloid vessels on the vitrad surface of the retina of two species of nototheniid fishes (+Hb). (A) Trematomus hansoni; (B) Notothenia coriiceps. The cornea, iris, lens and vitreous body were removed to allow viewing of the hyaloid vasculature, here exemplifying an intermediate and a sparse radial pattern, respectively. Blood vessels were traced using a digitizing tablet. Scale bars, 3 mm.

 

Figure 5
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  		Fig. 5. Hematocrit is related to vascular density index (VDI) and intervessel distance (IVD). (A) Among four red-blooded notothenioids with a >2.3-fold range of Hct, VDI in retinal tissue is inversely correlated with Hct (r2=0.934). (B) Intervessel distance in retinal tissue, in the same four species, is positively correlated with Hct (r2=0.898). Values are means ± s.e.m.; N=5 for C. aceratus and P. charcoti; N=2 for C. gunnari; N=3 for G. acuticeps and T. hansoni; N=4 for N. coriiceps. Channichthyids were not included in the regression analysis relating Hct to anatomical vascular characteristics because blood flow in icefishes is many times that of +Hb species. These high blood flows permit adequate oxygenation at lower vascular densities and greater spacing between vessels than would be expected based upon the relationship between Hct and these parameters (broken red lines).

 




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