The microcirculation of cerebral arteries: A morphologic and morphometric examination of the major canine cerebral arteries

Abstract

A morphologic and morphometric examination of the major cerebral blood vessels in the dog was carried out to determine whether there were vasa vasorum in these arteries and what features might be associated with them. True vasa vasorum confined to the media were not seen in any of the vessels examined. Microvessels confined to the adventitia, however, were found in the internal carotid and vertebral arteries but not in the basilar, middle cerebral, or anterior spinal arteries. Animal size, vessel size as determined by adventitial and medial area, and the number of smooth muscle cell lamellae were not associated with the presence of these adventitial vessels; they occurred only in arteries with both an intra- and extradural portion. It therefore appears that most canine cerebral arteries do not have vasa vasorum.

Editorial Comment—“Malignant” or Not: Is There a Role for In Vivo Neurochemistry?

“…[23][24][25] Consequently, damage of neuronal tissue results in increased blood-brain barrier permeability. Direct ischemic damage of brain vessels 16 may add to the problem, and reperfusion, eg, after thrombolysis, may also exacerbate blood-brain barrier damage.…”

Imbalances in the neurotrophic effects of noradrenaline, favouring the positive in the child and the negative in the mother, are the cause of preeclampsia

“…In 1876 he questioned why some small veins had so many vasa if their role was indeed primarily nutritional [24]. Almost a century later three morphometric studies of various arteries and veins justified Köester's comment by showing there was only a weak statistical correlation between the densities of the vascular microcirculation and the apparent nutritional needs of the blood vessels [25][26][27]. That finding along with the increasing recognition of the importance of circulating hormones, cytokines, chemokines, etc.…”

The balance between the pro-inflammatory effect of plasma noradrenaline and the anti-inflammatory effect of neuronal noradrenaline determines the peripheral effects of noradrenaline

“…However doubts about that have existed since 1876, at least, when Köester observed that many small veins had more vasa than their nutritional needs seemed to justify [70 fully justified. Three morphometric studies of the microcirculations of various arteries and veins, in the periphery and the brain [71], [72], [73], have found no correlation between the density of a microcirculation and the apparent nutritional needs of its host. That and the evidence that the capsules of the kidney (v.i.)…”