Scanning electron microscopic study of the splenic vascular casts in common tree shrew (Tupaia glis)

Abstract

Splenic vascular casts of the common tree shrew, Tupaia glis, were constructed with Batson's No. 17 plastic mixture and studied with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fifteen adult animals of both sexes, weighing between 120 and 180 g were used. Under ether anaesthesia, each animal was injected with 0.05 ml heparin intracardially; the right atrium was cut open and then 250 ml of 0.9% NaCl, followed by 50 ml of 10% neutral formalin, (in four animals) was injected through the left ventricle. Plastic mixture was injected through the same opening. After complete polymerization of the plastic, the spleen and surrounding tissues were removed and macerated in 40% KOH. The air-dried casts were then coated with carbon and gold before viewing and photographing under SEM at 15 kV. It was found that the splenic arteries penetrated deep into the organ before they divided into trabecular arteries and divided again into central arterioles. Each central arteriole sent out 15 to 30 radiating arterioles, called penicillar arterioles, and further divided into smaller vessels entering the marginal zone and red pulp. In this area each arteriole continued directly into either marginal or red pulp sinusoids. The sinusoids emptied into pulp venules which joined to form trabecular veins. Most of the trabecular veins travelled to the cortical area underneath the splenic capsule before approaching the hilum, where they finally drained into splenic and short gastric veins. It is likely that the spleen of the common tree shrew has a closed circulation.

Advances in imaging feto-placental vasculature: new tools to elucidate the early life origins of health and disease

“…Batson's casting compound) and after polymerisation, the surrounding tissue is removed with a corrosive agent to reveal the surface of the vascular cast. 40,73,84,88,89 SEM has been utilised to reveal the intricate connectivity of feto-placental vasculature of healthy pregnancies 72,78,79 and complicated pregnancies such as FGR, whereby pronounced variations in placental surface were observed. 72,75 SEM has also been used to provide anatomical comparison between humans and rodents, as well as a deeper understanding of how placental structure associates with fetal outcomes.…”

The Distribution And Clinical Anatomy Of The Short Gastric Veins

“…However a consistent operative finding is that the upper short gastric veins appear to drain directly into the splenic parenchyma at the upper margin of the hilum. Jirayr and Blair (1980) described this anatomical variation in mice and a study by Bamroongwong et al (1991) demonstrated this in the common tree shrew.…”

Adrenal Microvascularization in the Common Tree Shrew <i>(Tupaia glis)</i> as Revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy of Vascular Corrosion Casts

“…The preparation of animals and the injection of Batson's No. 17 plastic mixture (casting medium) and the preparation of adrenal vascular casts were carried out according to the method previously described Somana, 1988, 1991;Bamroongwong et al, 1991]. The adrenal vascular casts were cross-sectioned with a razor blade or dissected with needles and forceps under a stereomicroscope.…”