Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Capillary size and density in the cerebral cortex of rats with a porto-caval anastomosis

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Morphometric investigation by automatic image analysis of alkaline phosphatase positive brain capillaries was performed in control rats and in rats with a 30 days old porto-caval anastomosis.

Rats with a porto-caval anastomosis showed an increased capillary diameter Di and as a consequence of this a decreased capillary surface-to-volume ratio Si/Vi. The free capillary distance was increased and the capillary length per unit brain volume LVi was decreased in the shunted rats compared to the controls. There was no difference in the percentage of the projected capillary area\(A_{A_i }\)% between the two groups.

It is suggested that the dilatation of the capillaries in rats with a porto-caval anastomosis is caused by the altered haemodynamic properties with a low mean blood pressure although the cardiac output is increased and that the alteration in free capillary distance and length per unit brain volume LVi is caused by dispersion by cortical edema induced by the porto-caval anastomosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, R. D., Foley, J. M.: The neurological disorder associated with liver disease. Res. Publ. Ass. nerv. ment. Dis.32, 198–237 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J. R.: Cited by Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry 3. ed. London: J. and A. Churchill Ltd. 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Blinkov, S. M., Glezer, I. I.: The human brain in figures and tables. A quantitative handbook. New York: Basic Books Inc., Plenum Press 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Brattgård, S. O.: X.-Microscopical determinations of the thickness of histological sections. J. roy. micr. Soc.74, 113–122 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh, J. B., Kuy, M. H.: Type II Alzheimer change experimentally produced in astrocytes in the rat. J. neurol. Sci.12, 63–75 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh, J. B.: Liver bypass and the glia: Brain dysfunction in metabolic disorders. Res. Publ. Ass. nerv. ment. Dis.53, ed. F. Plum, p. 13. New York: Raven Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Craigie, E. H.: On the relative vascularity of various parts of the central nervous system of the albino rat. J. comp. Neurol.31, 429–464 (1920)

    Google Scholar 

  • Craigie, E. H.: The vascularity of the cerebral cortex of the albino rat. J. comp. Neurol.33, 193–211 (1921)

    Google Scholar 

  • Craigie, E. H.: The vascular supply of the archicortex of the rat. J. comp. Neurol.55, 443–451 (1932)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cremer, J. E., Heath, D. F., Teal, H. M., Woods, M. S., Cavanagh, J. B.: Some dynamic aspects of brain metabolism in rats given a portocaval anastomosis. Neuropath. appl. Neurobiol.3, 293–311 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Demole, V., Redalié, L.: Syndromes extrapyramideaux apparentes a la dégénérescence hépato lenticulaire. Rev. neurol.29, 1248–1269 (1922)

    Google Scholar 

  • Diemer, N. H., Klee, J., Schröder, H., Klinken, L.: Glial and nerve cell changes in rats with portocaval anastomosis. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)39, 59–68 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Diemer, N. H.: Glial and neuronal alterations in the corpus striatum of rats with CCl4-induced liver disease. Acta neurol. scand.55, 16–32 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Diemer, K., Henn, R.: Kapillarvermehrung in der Hirnrinde der Ratte unter chronischem Sauerstoffmangel. Naturwissenschaften52, 135–136 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Drummond, S. P.: A comparison of the injection and red cell staining methods used in quantitative studies of the central nervous system. Anat. Rec.89, 94–106 (1944)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eayrs, J. T.: The vascularity of the cerebral cortex in normal and cretinous rats. J. Anat.88, 164–173 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eklöf, B., Holmin, T., Jóhannsson, H., Siesjö, B. K.: Cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen in rats with porto-caval anastomosis. Acta physiol. scand.90, 337–344 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fazekas, J. F., Ticktin, H. E., Ehrmantraut, W. R., Alman, R. W.: Cerebral metabolism in hepatic insufficiency. Amer. J. Med.21, 843–849 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gjedde, A., Lockwood, A., Duffy, T. E., Plum, F.: The effect of ammonia on the cerebral metabolism of rats with portocaval shunts. Acta physiol. scand. Suppl. 440, XV. Scandinavian Congress of Physiology and Pharmacology, p. 103, Århus 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomori, G.: Cited by Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry 3. ed. London: J. and A. Churchill Ltd. 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Horstmann, E.: Abstand und Durchmesser der Kapillaren im Zentralnervensystem verschiedener Wirbeltierklassen. In: Structure and function of the cerebral cortex (ed. D. B. Tower, J. P. Schade), pp. 59–63. Amsterdam-London-New York-Princeton: Elsevier 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunziker, O., Emmenegger, H., Frey, H., Schultz, U., Meier-Ruge, W.: Morphometric characterization of the capillary network in the cat's brain cortex: A comparison of the physiological state and hypovolemic conditions. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)29, 57–63 (1974a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunziker, O., Frey, H., Schultz, U.: Morphometric investigations of capillaries in the brain cortex of the cat. Brain Res.65, 1–11 (1974b).

    Google Scholar 

  • James, I. M., MacDonell, L., Xanalatos, C.: The effect of acute portocaval shunting in dogs on cerebral and peripheral blood flow and metabolism. Clin. Sci.42, 769–774 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline, D. G., Doberneck, R. C., Chun, B. K., Rutherford, R. B.: Encephalopathy in graded porto-caval shunts. Ann. Surg.164, 1003–1012 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline, D. G., Crook, J. N., Nance, F. C.: Eck fistula encephalopathy: long term studies in primates. Ann. Surg.173, 97–103 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • König, J. F. R., Klippel, R. A.: The rat brain. A stereotaxic atlas of the forebrain and lower parts of the brain stem. Baltimore: The Williams & Wilkins Comp. 1963

    Google Scholar 

  • Laursen, H., Schröder, H., Westergaard, E.: The effect of portocaval anastomosis on the permeability to horseradish peroxidase of cerebral vessels of the rat. Acta path. microbiol. scand.83A, 266–268 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laursen, H., Westergaard, E.: Enhanced permeability to horseradish peroxidase across cerebral vessels in the rat after portocaval anastomosis. Neuropath. appl. Neurobiol.3, 29–43 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. H., Fisher, B.: Portocaval shunt in the rat. Surgery50, 668–672 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liehr, H., Grün, M., Thiel, H.: Hepatic blood flow and cardiac output after porta-caval anastomosis in the rat. Acta hepatogastroent.23, 31–40 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lierse, W.: Die Hirncapillaren und ihre Glia, pp. 40–52. Acta neuropath. (Berl.) Suppl.IV, (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunzer, M. R., Manghani, K. K., Newman, S. P., Sherlock, S. P. V., Bernard A. G., Ginsburg, J.: Impaired cardiovascular responsiveness in liver disease. Lancet2, 382–385 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, A.: Electron microscopy in human hepatic encephalopathy. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)11, 82–86 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDermott, W. F., Adams, R. D.: Episodic stupor associated with an Eck fistula in man, with particular reference to ammonia metabolism. J. clin. Invest.33, 1–9 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norenberg, M. D., Lapham, L. W., Nichols, F. A., May, A. G.: An experimental model for the study of hepatic encephalopathy. Arch. Neurol. (Chic.)31, 106–109 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norenberg, M. D.: Histochemical studies in experimental portalsystemic encephalopathy. I. Glutamic dehydrogenase. Arch. Neurol. (Chic.)33, 265–269 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Porro, G. B., Maiolo, A. T., Porta, P. D.: Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in hepatic cirrhosis before and after portacaval shunt operation. Gut,10, 894–897 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Purves, M. J.: The physiology of the cerebral circulation. p. 25. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherlock, S., Summerskill, W. H. J., White, L. P., Phear, E. A.: Portal-systemic encephalopathy. Neurological complications of liver disease. Lancet2, 453–457 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sholpo, A. E.: Cited in: Blinkov, S. M., Glezer, I. I.: The human brain in figures and tables. A quantitative handbook, p. 18. New York: Basic Books Inc., Plenum Press 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielmeyer, W.: Die histopathologische Zusammengehörigkeit der Wilsonschen Krankheit und der Pseudosklerose. Z. ges. Neurol. Psychiat.57, 312–351 (1920)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stadler, H.: Histopathologische Untersuchungen zur Frage der Beziehung zwischen Leber- und Gehirnveränderungen. Z. ges. Neurol. Psychiat.154, 626–657 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, N. N., Cherniack, N. S.: Effect of liver failure on the cerebral circulatory and metabolic responses to hypoxia in the goat. Clin. sci. mol. med.50, 15–23 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, Lisa: Probleme quantitativer lebensgeschichtlicher Untersuchungen der Kapillardichte in Rattengehirnen. Zeitschr. f. mikr.-anat. Forschung,78, 272–288 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Victor, M., Adams, R. D., Cole, M.: The acquired (non-Wilsonian) type of chronic hepatocerebral degeneration. Medicine (Baltimore)44, 345–396 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, A. H., Kyu, M. H., Fenton, J. C. B., Cavanagh, J. B.: The glutamate and glutamine content of rat brain after portocaval anastomosis. J. Neurochem.19, 1073–1077 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, J. R., Schieweck, Ch., Emmenegger, H., Meier-Ruge, W.: Cerebrovascular ultrastructural alterations after intra-arterial infusions of ouabain, scilla-glycosides, heparin and histamine. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)31, 45–58 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • von Hösslin, C., Alzheimer, A.: Ein Beitrag zur Klinik und pathologischen Anatomie der Westphal-Strümpellschen Pseudosclerose. Z. ges. Neurol. Psychiat.8, 183–209 (1912)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zamora, A. J., Cavanagh, J. B., Kyu, M. H.: Ultrastructural responses of the astrocytes to portocaval anastomosis in the rat. J. neurol. Sci.18, 25–45 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuropathology, University of Copenhagen, 11 Frederik V's Vej, DK-2100, Copenhangen Ø, Denmark

    H. Laursen & N. H. Diemer

Authors
  1. H. Laursen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. H. Diemer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Laursen, H., Diemer, N.H. Capillary size and density in the cerebral cortex of rats with a porto-caval anastomosis. Acta Neuropathol 40, 117–122 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688699

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688699

Key words

Search

Navigation