Original Scientific Article
Comparative anatomical studies on ductus venosus in fetuses of domestic ruminants
Pamela Bejdić * ,
Amel Ćutuk ,
Amer Alić ,
Benjamin Čengić ,
Rizah Avdić ,
Faruk Tandir ,
Nedžad Hadžiomerović ,
Verica Mrvić

Mac Vet Rev 2021; 44 (1): 29 - 36

10.2478/macvetrev-2020-0034

Received: 18 March 2020

Received in revised form: 07 October 2020

Accepted: 09 November 2020

Available Online First: 14 December 2020

Published on: 15 March 2021

Correspondence: Pamela Bejdić, pamela.bejdic@vfs.unsa.ba
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Abstract

The study has aimed to investigate and determine the anatomical position, shape, size, and histological features of the ductus venosus, and its role as a shunt in the fetal circulatory system in domestic ruminants. The research was conducted on 19 bovine, 11 sheep and 5 goat fetuses, aborted at the late stage of pregnancy or deceased just after delivery. The general anatomy of the ductus venosus was investigated by in-situ dissection of the corrosive cast obtained by injection of 25% solution of Vinylite mass through the umbilical vein. For histological examination, the fetal tissue samples were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Verhoeff-Van Gieson and Gomoriꞌs silver stain. The results showed that ruminant fetal ductus venosus is a curved, trumpet-shaped vessel, situated in the central part of the liver, above the porta hepatis. Its ventral part is constricted in the form of an isthmus, having a prominent lip-like thickening at the junction with the portal sinus. Histological examination showed the dominant presence of collagen and elastic fibers in its tunica media, with thin bands of smooth muscle fibers oriented in a longitudinal and circular direction indicating ability for vasoconstriction and vasodilatation.

Keywords: umbilicus, ductus venosus, ruminants, anatomy, morphology


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Copyright

© 2020 Bejdić P. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 44, Issue 1, Pages 29-36, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI: 10.2478/macvetrev-2020-0034, 2021