Vol 61, No 2 (2002)
Original article
Published online: 2002-02-22
Vessels involved in the venous outflow from glandular mucosa of hamster stomach
Folia Morphol 2002;61(2):81-87.
Abstract
Blood from the glandular part of hamster gastric mucosa is drained by collecting
venules, running from the subepithelial layer towards lamina muscularis mucosae.
To visualise vessels involved in the venous outflow, hamsters were exposed
to atropine and subjected to intravital ligation of portal vein, causing strong
hyperaemia. Distribution of vessels and their connections were studied a) in
translucent, flat preparations of the glandular stomach, b) in thick sections of
glandular mucosa cleared in the mineral oil, and c) in semi-thin plastic or paraffin
sections. Collecting venules were drained by single vessels running parallel to
the lamina muscularis mucosae (paramuscular venules), which, in turn, joined
submucosal veins through openings in muscularis mucosae. Moreover, some
collecting and paramuscular venules discharged into venules belonging to vascular
triples composed of two venules and arteriole. The triplets were also parallel
to muscularis mucosae. Triplets did not form connections with submucosal
veins but passed on the abluminal surface of muscularis mucosae. Thus, some
structural elements involved in venous outflow from glandular gastric mucosa
differ from those in rats, in which vascular triplets were absent and all collecting
venules drained into single paramuscular vessels. Contraction/relaxation of muscularis
mucosae may regulate the amount of blood present in the venous system
of the mucosa and the diameter of venules. Rhythmical changes of the
latter could cause changes in intramucosal pressure, affecting movement of
tissue fluid in the mucosa and thus the function of gastric cells.
Keywords: stomach mucosahyperaemiacollecting venulesparamuscular venulesmuscularis mucosae