Premium
Morphology of central compartment and vasculature of the gills of Lepidosiren paradoxa (Fitzinger)
Author(s) -
Morgan M.,
Wright D. E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1989.tb03371.x
Subject(s) - anatomy , biology , connective tissue , gill , dorsal aorta , compartment (ship) , lungfish , lymphatic system , fish <actinopterygii> , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , oceanography , genetics , stem cell , fishery , haematopoiesis , geology
The four paired gill arches of the South American lungfish Lepidosiren paradoxa contain single branchial arteries directly connecting dorsal and ventral arteries. In gill arches 3 and 4 the branchial arteries also supply looped arlerioles and capillaries to much‐reduced gill filaments. Regulation of blood between these routes is thought to be by alteration of vascular resistance. Within the filaments, extensive subepithelial capillary networks and numerous small pumps connect lymphatic vessels in the central connective tissue compartment with venules which, in turn, drain to paired branchial veins. The features of the endothelium of many of the filament blood vessels suggest extensive transporting, haematolytic and granulopoeitic functions. Large numbers of macrophages pack the connective tissue. Many contain extensive quantities of haemosiderin.