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Characterization of innate collateral connections in the canine heart
Author(s) -
Spaan Jos,
Horssen Pepijn,
Wijngaard Jeroen,
Siebes Maria
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1055.14
Subject(s) - artery , collateral , perfusion , right coronary artery , anatomy , cardiology , medicine , coronary angiography , myocardial infarction , finance , economics
Background Innate coronary collateral connections may be important for recruitment as functional collateral vessels. The aim was to define the distribution of these connections and characterize their diameter and orientation. Methods In ex‐vivo canine hearts (n=6) the left main and right coronary artery were cannulated and filled with fluorescent resin (Batson #17). The hearts were prepared for our imaging cryomicrotome, sliced at 20 μm and block face images acquired. The stacks of about 4000 images were mathematically analyzed for vessel segments and pathways. Connections between branching subtrees were detected. Results In average 400 connections per heart were found. Diameter distributions were skewed one sided to higher diameters with a mean peak value of 102.27±11.78 μm. In general orientation of these connections are parallel to the epicardium. Additionally, endocardial orientation was preferential parallel towards the longitudinal axis in contrast to midmyocard. The diameter distribution of the segments feeding a closed collateral pathway had a peak diameter of 220 μm. These segments were randomly distributed. Conclusion In the dog, pre‐existing collateral connections are randomly distributed in the heart and therefore each coronary artery perfusion territory, large and small, has precursors for collateral vessels outgrowth. Supported by FP7‐ICT 2007224495 (euHeart)..