Sistematização e descrição da vascularização arterial da área páleo-palial na superfície do cérebro de chinchila (Chinchilla lanigera) / Systematization and description of arterial vascularization of the paleopallia area on the brain surface of chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Background: Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) is a small rodent that in recent years has been increasingly used as a laboratory animal by different researchers. Brain irrigation is the object of study by several authors, being chinchilla classifiedas a vertebrobasillary animal, that is, it does not depend on the internal carotid artery to originate its cerebral arterialvascularization. Thus, the objective of this study was to systematize and describe the branches of the rostral, middle andcaudal cerebral arteries that vascularized the paleopallia area of the chinchilla.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty Chinchilla lanigera brains were used in this study, 17 females and 13 adult malesfrom farms in the municipalities of Viamão and Santa Maria in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The animals wereheparinized, with 5000 IU / animal, and after 30 min were sacrificed with 8 mL / 2.5% sodium thiopental animal, bothintraperitoneally. The thoracic cavity was opened, the cardiac apex sectioned and the aortic arch was cannulated throughthe left ventricle. The arterial system was flushed with 0.9% cooled saline, 100mL / animal and then filled with 603 latexstained red with specific dye. The skin was recessed and a bone window opened in the cranial vault. Thus the pieces werefixed in 20% formaldehyde for seven days and after this period, the brain with a cervical spinal cord segment was removedand ventral schematic drawings of all preparations were prepared. The Veterinary Anatomical Nomina (2017) was usedto name the cerebral arteries and their branches and for the statistical analysis of the results, the percentage calculationwas applied. Brain irrigation in the chinchilla was supplied by the basilar artery, which was formed by anastomosis of theterminal branches of the right and left vertebral arteries, in the most caudal portion of the oblong medulla. The paleopalliaareas corresponded to the olfactory trine, lateral brain fossa, piriform lobe...(AU)

Sistematização e descrição da vascularização arterial da área páleo-palial na superfície do cérebro de chinchila (Chinchilla lanigera) / Systematization and description of arterial vascularization of the paleopallia area on the brain surface of chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Background: Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) is a small rodent that in recent years has been increasingly used as a laboratory animal by different researchers. Brain irrigation is the object of study by several authors, being chinchilla classifiedas a vertebrobasillary animal, that is, it does not depend on the internal carotid artery to originate its cerebral arterialvascularization. Thus, the objective of this study was to systematize and describe the branches of the rostral, middle andcaudal cerebral arteries that vascularized the paleopallia area of the chinchilla.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty Chinchilla lanigera brains were used in this study, 17 females and 13 adult malesfrom farms in the municipalities of Viamão and Santa Maria in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The animals wereheparinized, with 5000 IU / animal, and after 30 min were sacrificed with 8 mL / 2.5% sodium thiopental animal, bothintraperitoneally. The thoracic cavity was opened, the cardiac apex sectioned and the aortic arch was cannulated throughthe left ventricle. The arterial system was flushed with 0.9% cooled saline, 100mL / animal and then filled with 603 latexstained red with specific dye. The skin was recessed and a bone window opened in the cranial vault. Thus the pieces werefixed in 20% formaldehyde for seven days and after this period, the brain with a cervical spinal cord segment was removedand ventral schematic drawings of all preparations were prepared. The Veterinary Anatomical Nomina (2017) was usedto name the cerebral arteries and their branches and for the statistical analysis of the results, the percentage calculationwas applied. Brain irrigation in the chinchilla was supplied by the basilar artery, which was formed by anastomosis of theterminal branches of the right and left vertebral arteries, in the most caudal portion of the oblong medulla. The paleopalliaareas corresponded to the olfactory trine, lateral brain fossa, piriform lobe...

A retrospective study of small animal poisoning at the veterinary medical teaching hospital from south region of Brazil

Background: Poisoning cases are a challenge for the veterinary practitioner, since many agents can be involved. The incomplete patient history associated with advanced poisoning stage often leads to death. Since lacking information is common, it is essential to be aware of principal poisoning agents and their associated symptomatology. The aim of this study is to describe the major agents involved in small animal poisoning, the causative agent, poisoning route, time to search veterinary care, clinical signs and ancillary tests of canine and feline patients treated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from January 2010 to June 2016.Materials, Methods & Results: Forty-four medical records with poisoning history were found and reviewed, but only 30 medical records had complete data to be evaluated. There were 24 dogs and 6 cats, 17 female and 13 male. Six females were spayed. Poisoning agent identification was possible in 29 cases and was food, molluscicide, cleaning product, ornamental plants, medication, rodenticide and antiparasitic drugs. Fourteen poisonings were caused by the owner and 16 were accidental. There was a higher poisoning incidence in dogs than cats. Most of the patients were young and unneutered/unspayed.Discussion: In this study there was a higher poisoning prevalence in dogs than cats, as occurred in other studies published in Europe, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Austria and other Brazilian regions. Most of the patients were young, which is in agreement with previous studies in which young animals were more affected. Domestic antiparasitic drugs were the most common poisoning agents (33%), as reported in studies from France and Spain. In southern Brazil, the most common poisoning agent was medication, whereas in southeast Brazil, organophosphates were the most prevalent poisoning agent. Considering this, the geographic localisation seems to influence the poisoning agent.[...](AU)

A retrospective study of small animal poisoning at the veterinary medical teaching hospital from south region of Brazil

Background: Poisoning cases are a challenge for the veterinary practitioner, since many agents can be involved. The incomplete patient history associated with advanced poisoning stage often leads to death. Since lacking information is common, it is essential to be aware of principal poisoning agents and their associated symptomatology. The aim of this study is to describe the major agents involved in small animal poisoning, the causative agent, poisoning route, time to search veterinary care, clinical signs and ancillary tests of canine and feline patients treated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from January 2010 to June 2016.Materials, Methods & Results: Forty-four medical records with poisoning history were found and reviewed, but only 30 medical records had complete data to be evaluated. There were 24 dogs and 6 cats, 17 female and 13 male. Six females were spayed. Poisoning agent identification was possible in 29 cases and was food, molluscicide, cleaning product, ornamental plants, medication, rodenticide and antiparasitic drugs. Fourteen poisonings were caused by the owner and 16 were accidental. There was a higher poisoning incidence in dogs than cats. Most of the patients were young and unneutered/unspayed.Discussion: In this study there was a higher poisoning prevalence in dogs than cats, as occurred in other studies published in Europe, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Austria and other Brazilian regions. Most of the patients were young, which is in agreement with previous studies in which young animals were more affected. Domestic antiparasitic drugs were the most common poisoning agents (33%), as reported in studies from France and Spain. In southern Brazil, the most common poisoning agent was medication, whereas in southeast Brazil, organophosphates were the most prevalent poisoning agent. Considering this, the geographic localisation seems to influence the poisoning agent.[...]

Retrospective study of anesthesias in dogs and cats underwent to neurosurgery / Estudo retrospectivo das anestesias realizadas em cães e gatos submetidos à neurocirurgia

Background: The goal of anesthesia in patients with neurological diseases is to maintain the homeostasis of the central nervous system, focusing on intracranial pressure and pain during the intraoperative period. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anesthesia performed between January 2010 and January 2016 at the Veterinary Clinical Hospital at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and correlate the types of surgeries, drugs used in the pre-anesthetic medication, induction, pain control, and the development of complications during the procedure. Materials, Methods & Results: The medical records of 242 patients, who presented with neurological signs of spinal cord compression or traumatic brain injury, were assessed. Only 70 patients who underwent surgery had properly documented and detailed anesthesia records. Of these 70, there were 32 male and 38 female animals, with one feline and 69 canines. Their weights on the day of surgery ranged between 1.5 kg and 38 kg and their ages ranged from six months up to 13 years. We evaluated 74 surgeries because four patients underwent two separate surgeries. There were 38 hemilaminectomies, 14 ventral slots, seven vertebral stabilizations (one atlantoaxial instability and six vertebral fractures), six dorsal laminectomies, four pediculectomies, two fenestrations with hemilaminectomy, one durotomy with hemilaminectomy, on [...](AU)

Retrospective study of anesthesias in dogs and cats underwent to neurosurgery / Estudo retrospectivo das anestesias realizadas em cães e gatos submetidos à neurocirurgia

Background: The goal of anesthesia in patients with neurological diseases is to maintain the homeostasis of the central nervous system, focusing on intracranial pressure and pain during the intraoperative period. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anesthesia performed between January 2010 and January 2016 at the Veterinary Clinical Hospital at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and correlate the types of surgeries, drugs used in the pre-anesthetic medication, induction, pain control, and the development of complications during the procedure. Materials, Methods & Results: The medical records of 242 patients, who presented with neurological signs of spinal cord compression or traumatic brain injury, were assessed. Only 70 patients who underwent surgery had properly documented and detailed anesthesia records. Of these 70, there were 32 male and 38 female animals, with one feline and 69 canines. Their weights on the day of surgery ranged between 1.5 kg and 38 kg and their ages ranged from six months up to 13 years. We evaluated 74 surgeries because four patients underwent two separate surgeries. There were 38 hemilaminectomies, 14 ventral slots, seven vertebral stabilizations (one atlantoaxial instability and six vertebral fractures), six dorsal laminectomies, four pediculectomies, two fenestrations with hemilaminectomy, one durotomy with hemilaminectomy, on [...]

Techniques for anatomical preparation of dried viscera and angioarchitecture of cranial mesenteric artery branching of dogs and cats / Técnicas anatômicas de preparação de vísceras secas e de angioarquitetura para visualização da ramificação da artéria mesentérica cranial em cães e gatos

Background: The study of the arterial vascularization of the abdominal cavity viscera is essential on the process of learning anatomy. For authors, various anatomical techniques can be used for the preservation of structures, allowing the exploration and visualization of the organs shape in many different ways. Among the techniques there is the angioarchitecture of viscera, with or without the utilization of formaldehyde. The aim of this paper is to describe a technique for anatomical preparation of the intestines (small and large) of dogs and cats using dried viscera and angioarchitecture, to facilitate the study and visualization of the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries branching.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty pieces of intestine of dogs and two of cats were used. The intestine was removed from the duodenum to the cranial portion of the rectum, the root of the mesentery was sectioned as well as the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries. The part was washed, then the caudal and cranial mesenteric and pancreaticoduodenal arteries were ligated, latex was injected in the cranial mesenteric artery and the sample remained immersed in a 10% acetic acid aqueous solution. The cranial portion of the rectum was ligated and, through a cannula into the duodenum, air was insufflated until the viscera were distended. Following that, the part was positioned and fixed, exposed...(AU)

Techniques for anatomical preparation of dried viscera and angioarchitecture of cranial mesenteric artery branching of dogs and cats / Técnicas anatômicas de preparação de vísceras secas e de angioarquitetura para visualização da ramificação da artéria mesentérica cranial em cães e gatos

Background: The study of the arterial vascularization of the abdominal cavity viscera is essential on the process of learning anatomy. For authors, various anatomical techniques can be used for the preservation of structures, allowing the exploration and visualization of the organs shape in many different ways. Among the techniques there is the angioarchitecture of viscera, with or without the utilization of formaldehyde. The aim of this paper is to describe a technique for anatomical preparation of the intestines (small and large) of dogs and cats using dried viscera and angioarchitecture, to facilitate the study and visualization of the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries branching.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty pieces of intestine of dogs and two of cats were used. The intestine was removed from the duodenum to the cranial portion of the rectum, the root of the mesentery was sectioned as well as the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries. The part was washed, then the caudal and cranial mesenteric and pancreaticoduodenal arteries were ligated, latex was injected in the cranial mesenteric artery and the sample remained immersed in a 10% acetic acid aqueous solution. The cranial portion of the rectum was ligated and, through a cannula into the duodenum, air was insufflated until the viscera were distended. Following that, the part was positioned and fixed, exposed...

Collaterals branches of the aortics archs and its main rami in turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) / Ramos colaterais dos arcos aórticos e suas principais ramificações em tartaruga (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Background: Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are exported to many countries with the purpose of being used as pets,however, despite commercial interest, there are few reports on their anatomy, based on this observation we proceeded on toconducting this study. Studies on the collateral branches of the aortic arch were found in domestic and wild species, however,there were few records regarding the turtle. This study aims to describe the collateral branches of the aortic arches and itsmajor branches in the Trachemys scripta elegans, establishing a standard model and the main variations in this species.Materials, Methods & Results: After the Ethics Committee of Animal Use of the Federal University of Rio Grande doSul approved the project, thirty turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) were used, coming from the sorting centers of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources. The animals underwent preanesthetic medication administration,consisting of ketamine (80 mg/kg) and midazolam (2 mg/kg), administered intramuscularly in the forelimb. Euthanasiawas performed one hour after the preanesthetic medication administration through an overdose of sodium thiopental (100mg/kg) administered by the intracelomic route with subsequent use of vascular doppler for determination of death. Theheart of each animal was accessed, the cardiac apex was sectioned for cannulation of the aortic arches through the singleventricle. The cranial cava veins were sectioned, the vascular system was rinsed with saline solution and filled with latex.The pieces remained immersed in water for polymerization of the latex, being stored in containers with formaldehyde.Subsequently, the arteries with its collateral branches were dissected. Schematic drawings were prepared for the elaboration of the results and the vessels were nominated. In all the samples studied, two atria and one ventricle were found, fromwhich were originated two juxtaposed aortic arches...(AU)

Collaterals branches of the aortics archs and its main rami in turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) / Ramos colaterais dos arcos aórticos e suas principais ramificações em tartaruga (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Background: Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are exported to many countries with the purpose of being used as pets,however, despite commercial interest, there are few reports on their anatomy, based on this observation we proceeded on toconducting this study. Studies on the collateral branches of the aortic arch were found in domestic and wild species, however,there were few records regarding the turtle. This study aims to describe the collateral branches of the aortic arches and itsmajor branches in the Trachemys scripta elegans, establishing a standard model and the main variations in this species.Materials, Methods & Results: After the Ethics Committee of Animal Use of the Federal University of Rio Grande doSul approved the project, thirty turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) were used, coming from the sorting centers of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources. The animals underwent preanesthetic medication administration,consisting of ketamine (80 mg/kg) and midazolam (2 mg/kg), administered intramuscularly in the forelimb. Euthanasiawas performed one hour after the preanesthetic medication administration through an overdose of sodium thiopental (100mg/kg) administered by the intracelomic route with subsequent use of vascular doppler for determination of death. Theheart of each animal was accessed, the cardiac apex was sectioned for cannulation of the aortic arches through the singleventricle. The cranial cava veins were sectioned, the vascular system was rinsed with saline solution and filled with latex.The pieces remained immersed in water for polymerization of the latex, being stored in containers with formaldehyde.Subsequently, the arteries with its collateral branches were dissected. Schematic drawings were prepared for the elaboration of the results and the vessels were nominated. In all the samples studied, two atria and one ventricle were found, fromwhich were originated two juxtaposed aortic arches...

Vascularização arterial do estômago, duodeno, pâncreas, fígado e baço em Myocastor coypus (nutria) / Arterial Vascularization of the Stomach, Duodenum, Pancreas, Liver and Spleen in Myocastor coypus (nutria)

Background: Rodents are the largest group of mammals. The nutria is a middle-sized rodent, native to South America, raised for meet and fur. This study has the objective to systematize and describe the arterial vascularization of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver and spleen of nutria (Myocastor coypus). Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty young and adult nutrias (15 females and 15 males) were used. Animals were administered 5000 IU heparin and after 30 min 20 mL of 12.5% sodium thiopental by intraperitoneal injection. Then, the thoracic cavity was ventrally opened, the thoracic aorta cannulated close to the diaphragm and the system was washed with saline solution. After, the system was filled with 603 latex colored in red and pieces were immersed in 20% formol for fixation for seven days. The abdominal cavity opened at the ventral median line, the branches of the abdominal aorta artery were dissected and, after the section of the main arterial trunks (celiac, caudal and cranial mesenteric arteries), the digestive tract was removed, sectioning the esophagus and rectus. Schematic drawings of all pieces were prepared with the use of a magnifying glass. The stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver and spleen of the nutrias were exclusively irrigated by branches of the celiac and the cranial mesenteric arteries, visceral collateral first and second branches of the abdominal aorta, respectively. The celiac artery presented a trifurcation after a short path, which originated the left gastric, the lienal and the hepatic arteries in 83.3% of the pieces. But in 16.7% of the cases, the celiac artery emitted the left gastric and lineal arteries, with the hepatic artery being a collateral branch of the cranial mesenteric artery. The lienal artery in 96.7% of the cases, projected lateralwards and emitted, after a short trunk, the left gastroeiploic artery, then continued until the spleen as lineal artery. The caudal pancreaticoduodenal artery was a right branch of the cranial mesenteric artery in 96.7% of the cases, and in 3.3% was branch of the hepatic artery, originated from the cranial mesenteric artery. Discussion: In nutria, it was observed that the celiac artery was originated from the ventral surface of the abdominal aorta, immediately caudal to the aortic hiatus. It was also observed the formation of a common trunk between the celiac and the cranial mesenteric arteries, what was not found in the studied species or in the White-lipped peccary. In nutria, the celiac artery originated, more frequently, the left gastric, lineal and hepatic arteries, with the same trifurcation observed in the White-lipped peccary. Also, in the nutria, the left gastric artery went towards the small curvature of the stomach and emitted a cardiac branch before reaching it and from this branch also emitted some esophagic branches and a large number of branches distributed on the visceral and parietal surfaces of the stomach. In the nutria, the left gastric artery also emitted a similar vessel, which dorsally countered the esophagus to the left and distributed to the left sac of the stomach, besides some ramifications to the esophagus. In the rabbit, as well as in the nutria, the lineal artery presented a similar trajectory and ramification, but in none of the samples it was observed that this artery or the left gastroepiploic artery reached the pyloric region. In the White-lipped peccary, the hepatic artery was emitted in a common trunk with the splenic or left gastric arteries, what was not observed in any of the pieces in nutria. The stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver and spleen of the nutria are vascularized by branches emitted from the celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries.

Narcolepsia sintomática em um cão com macroadenoma hipofisário / Symptomatic narcolepsy in a dog with hypophisary macroadenoma

Background: Narcolepsy is a neurologic sleep disorder, in humans characterized by excessive and recurrent daytime sleepiness, rapid eye movement in the beginning of the sleep, in association with hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis, with or without cataplexy. In dogs, the characteristic symptom is cataplexy and narcolepsy exists in two forms, one genetic and one acquired. This article describes one case of narcolepsy as a symptom due to an adenohypophysis tumor. Case: Dog presenting progressive signs of appetite loss, incoordination and constant falling. At clinical evaluation, the dog presented cachexia, hipocolored mucosae and compulsively walking in circles to the right, the four limbs collapsed from physical exhaustion, remaining in a narcoleptic state. Complementary exams, like x-ray, ultrasonography, hemogram and biochemical examination did not show significant alterations. The patient was hospitalized for recovery of general status and corticoid treatment was initiated, but after two days it died. Necropsy reported that the cause of death was 180º gastric torsion and adrenals presented diffuse and marked enlargement of the cortical layer, 1.5 cm diameter neoplasia at the base of the brain and 0.5 cm diameter cavitation in the cerebral parenchyma. In the microscopic examination, adrenals were hyperplastic at the cortical region and there was round cell proliferation, with some basophilic cytoplasm and others more eosinophilic at the hypophysis with parenchyma nervous tissue invasion, reaching the diagnosis of macroadenoma of adenohypophysis chromophil cells. Discussion: secondary or symptomatic narcolepsy is not commonly described in animals, with just one case report being found in the literature, in which the patient presented narcolepsy-cataplexy secondary to post-vaccination encephalitis. In humans, it has been reported in cases of hypothalamic pathologies, like Niemann-Pick type C disease, neoplasia, trauma, vascular issues, post-encephalitis, agenesis of the corpus callosum, sarcoidosis, neurocysticercosis and limbic encephalitis. In the described case, probably, there was an infi ltration from the hypophysis macroadenoma to the adjacent tissues, causing destruction and compression of hypothalamic neurons. The hypophisary macroadenomas, with nervous symptoms, occur due to tumor dorsal extention, dorso-caudal direction, comprising and invading the hypothalamus and the third ventricle. The most common signs are apathy, ataxy, behavioral changes, sight reduction and facial paralysis, being some of these symptoms observed in the present case. According to several reports in humans, the hypocretin levels (neurotransmitter which presents the function of sleep regulation, alertness and food intake) is used to diagnose narcolepsy, however, in case of secondary narcolepsy, the neurotransmitter can or not be decreased. Cases in which it had normal amount, the authors based on clinical signs concluded that the hypocretinergic system (hypocretin-1 and 2, and its respective receptors) would be compromised. The patient died before the hypocretin dosage was performed to confirm secondary narcolepsy. For that, it would be necessary to collect cephalorachidian fluid, under sedation, but the dog was not in adequate physical condition to go under such procedure. Because of that, it was concluded that, by symptomatology, its hypocretinergic system was affected, because the location of the tumor lesion is similar to other cases reported in humans.

A artéria celíaca em Didelphis albiventris (gambá) / The celiac artery in Didelphis albiventris (opossum)

This member of the Didelphidea family, commonly known as opossum, is widely distributed in the American territory, with species found from southern Canada up to northern Argentina. Similarly to all marsupials, they are characterized by a short gestational period, followed by a long development period. Opossums are arboreal, terrestrial slow animals of lonely and nocturnal habits. They are omnivore animals, eating from small rodents, birds, eggs and amphibians to fruits and vegetables. These general characteristics have drawn in the interest and curiosity of the scientific community to this animal, which is now the object of study in several knowledge areas. In order to find morphological information that could assist in discussions from a functional point of view and that could offer support for measures that aim at protecting opossums in their natural environment, the objective of the present study is to divulge the anatomical behavior of their celiac artery and its branches, including its distribution areas, considering the importance of these vessels in the blood supply of several digestive organs.(AU)

Ramos colaterais do arco aórtico e suas principais ramificações em nutria (Myocastor coypus) / Collaterals branches of the aortic arch and its main rami in nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Nutria (Myocastor coypus), also known as Swamp Beaver, is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent that belongs to the Capromyidae family. Originally from the southernmost part of South America, the species is distributed in several parts worldwide such as Europe and United States, where it has been used for commercial purposes due to the excellent quality of its fur and meat. Information about the nutria morphology is rare. Only a few articles about its abdominal aorta branches can be found, but nothing exists regarding its aortic arch. Consequently, other rodents such as chinchillas, agoutis, guinea pigs capybaras, pacas and rats will be used in the discussion. Therefore, this study aims to obtain morphological information that could justify such discussions in a functional point of view, and that could result in support for a better understanding of the physiology of this animal.(AU)

Ramos colaterais do arco aórtico e suas principais ramificações em nutria (Myocastor coypus) / Collaterals branches of the aortic arch and its main rami in nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Nutria (Myocastor coypus), also known as Swamp Beaver, is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent that belongs to the Capromyidae family. Originally from the southernmost part of South America, the species is distributed in several parts worldwide such as Europe and United States, where it has been used for commercial purposes due to the excellent quality of its fur and meat. Information about the nutria morphology is rare. Only a few articles about its abdominal aorta branches can be found, but nothing exists regarding its aortic arch. Consequently, other rodents such as chinchillas, agoutis, guinea pigs capybaras, pacas and rats will be used in the discussion. Therefore, this study aims to obtain morphological information that could justify such discussions in a functional point of view, and that could result in support for a better understanding of the physiology of this animal.

A artéria celíaca em Didelphis albiventris (gambá) / The celiac artery in Didelphis albiventris (opossum)

This member of the Didelphidea family, commonly known as opossum, is widely distributed in the American territory, with species found from southern Canada up to northern Argentina. Similarly to all marsupials, they are characterized by a short gestational period, followed by a long development period. Opossums are arboreal, terrestrial slow animals of lonely and nocturnal habits. They are omnivore animals, eating from small rodents, birds, eggs and amphibians to fruits and vegetables. These general characteristics have drawn in the interest and curiosity of the scientific community to this animal, which is now the object of study in several knowledge areas. In order to find morphological information that could assist in discussions from a functional point of view and that could offer support for measures that aim at protecting opossums in their natural environment, the objective of the present study is to divulge the anatomical behavior of their celiac artery and its branches, including its distribution areas, considering the importance of these vessels in the blood supply of several digestive organs.

A systematic study of the brain base arteries and their blood supply sources in the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera - Molina 1782)

The origin of the blood supply to the brain and arteries of the ventral surface of the brain was studied in 31 adult chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). The arterial system was filled with latex 603 via the brachioencephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery, both of which arose from the aortic arch in most cases. The right and left internal carotid arteries (100% and 93.3%, respectively) did not contribute to the brain supply. The vertebral arteries were present in all cases and formed the basilar artery (96.7%) that gave off the ventral spinal artery caudally in all cases. The caudal cerebellar artery was single (80%) or double (20%) on the right, and single (70%) or double (30%) on the left. The rostral cerebellar artery was present as a caudal vessel on the right (73.3%) and on the left (70%), and as a rostral vessel in all cases. The rostral tectal artery was single in all cases. The caudal cerebral artery was single (53.3%), double (36.7%) or triple (10%) on the right, and single (46.7%), double (46.7%) or triple (6.7%) on the left. The hypophyseal artery was present in all cases. The internal ophthalmic artery was present only on the right (26.7%), or only on the left (23.3%). The middle cerebral artery was single in all cases on both sides. The rostral cerebral artery was present as a well-developed (96.7%) or vestigial (3.3%) vessel in both antimeres, gave off lateral arteries to the olfactory bulb and the median rostral inter-hemispheric artery, and ended as the internal ethmoidal artery. The cerebral arterial circle was open (70%) or closed (30%) rostrally, and closed caudally in all cases. The brain was supplied almost exclusively by the vertebral-basilar system.