The design of the microvasculature of cerebellum and nontegmental
rhombencephalic areas was studied in eight adult Acipenser ruthenus L. by
scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and
three-dimensional morphometry. Gross vascularization was described and
diameters and total branching angles of parent and daughter vessels of
randomly selected arterial and capillary bifurcations (respectively,
venous mergings) were measured. With diameters ranging from 15.9 ±
1.9 μm (cerebellum; mean ± S.D.) to 15.9 ± 1.7 mm
(nontegmental rhombencephalon; mean ± S.D.) capillaries in
Acipenser were significantly (p ≥ .05) smaller than
in cyclostomes (18–20 μm) but significantly thicker than in
higher vertebrates and men (6–8 μm). With the exception of the
area ratio β (i.e., sum of squared daugther diameters divided by
squared diameter of parent vessel) of the venular mergings in the
nontegmental rhombencephalon, no significant differences (p ≥
.05) existed between the two brain areas. Data showed that arteriolar and
capillary bifurcations and venular mergings are optimally designed in
respect to diameters of parent vessel to daughter vessels and to branching
(merging) angles. Quantitative data are discussed both in respect to
methodical pitfalls and the optimality principles possibly underlying the
design of vascular bifurcations/mergings in selected brain areas of a
nonteleost primitive actinopterygian fish.