Vol 63, No 2 (2004)
Original article
Published online: 2004-03-12
Venous outflow system in rabbit gastric mucosa
Folia Morphol 2004;63(2):151-157.
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to compare the organisation of the gastric mucosal
venous system in larger animals, exemplified by rabbits, with that of the rat
and the hamster which we have described previously. Rabbits were given atropine
and hexamethonium followed by intravital ligation of all veins draining the
stomach, causing strong hyperaemia. The distribution of vessels was studied in
the non-mounted mucosa, in mounts of mucosa cleared in light mineral oil and
in paraffin or semi-thin plastic sections. We found that blood from rabbit gastric
mucosa is drained by collecting venules, running from the subepithelial layer
towards the muscularis mucosae. The collecting venules join the paramuscular
vessels parallel and adjacent to the muscularis mucosae. Neighbouring venules
form numerous arcade-like connections and gradually enlarge. Two venules and
an arteriole form triplets initially situated at the luminal face of the muscularis
mucosae and gradually passing onto its abluminal surface. In rats vascular triplets
were absent and the collecting venules drained into paramuscular vessels
joining submucosal veins. In hamsters both connections between paramuscular
vessels and submucosal veins and the passing of vascular triplets across muscularis
mucosae were observed. Contraction/relaxation of the muscularis mucosae
may regulate the amount of blood in the venous system of the mucosa and
change the intramucosal pressure, affecting movement of the tissue fluid and,
indirectly, the function of the gastric cells.
Keywords: venules in rabbit stomachportal vein ligationhyperaemiamuscularis mucosae