Microvascularization of thalamus and metathalamus in common tree shrew (Tupaia glis).

The microangioarchitecture of the thalamus and metathalamus in common tree shrew (Tupaia glis) was studied using vascular corrosion cast/stereomicroscope and SEM technique. The arterial supply of the thalamus and metathalamus was found to originate from perforating branches of the posterior communicating artery, the posterior cerebral artery, the middle cerebral artery, and the anterior choroidal artery. These perforating arteries gave rise to numerous bipinnate arterioles which in turn, with decreasing vessel diameters, branched into a non-fenestrated capillary bed.

Types of vascular wall as related to vasa vasorum in common tree shrew (Tupaia glis).

Blood vessels of the common tree shrew (Tupaia glis) were embedded in Araldite, sectioned at 0.5-1 microm thickness, and observed with light microscope (LM). It was found that the vascular wall could be classified into three categories: (1) those with proper vasa vasorum (PVV); (2) those with collaborative vasa vasorum in perimural tissues; (3) those without vasa vasorum.