Microcirculatory Patterns in Adult Rat Cerebral Hypophysis: A Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Replicated Specimens

The blood vascular bed of the cerebral hypophysis in the adult rat was replicated completely or incompletely by arterial injection of different amounts of methacrylate resin, to be observed with a scanning electron microscope. Complete replication confirmed our previous findings (Murakami et al., 1987) on the distribution and structure of the vascular beds in and around the hypophysis of the rat. One long major and several minor portal routes (vide infra) were reproduced sufficiently together with the systemic veins of the posterior lobe. Incomplete replication demonstrated that resin flows: 1) via the long portal vessels from the median eminence and neural stalk to the anterior lobe; 2) via the accessory long portal vessels from the subependyma to the anterior lobe; 3) via the short portal vessels from the posterior lobe to the anterior lobe; 4) via the neuro-intermedial portal vessels from the posterior lobe to the intermediate lobe; 5) via the intermedio-distal portal vessels from the intermediate lobe to the anterior lobe; and 6) via the tuberal portal vessels from the tuberal lobe to the anterior lobe. Incomplete replication also demonstrated that resin in the median eminence and neural stalk is drained preferentially into the anterior lobe via the long portal vessels, and that resin in the posterior lobe is drained mainly into the systemic veins. We were unable to demonstrate a retrograde resin flow from the anterior lobe to the median eminence, subependyma, neural stalk, intermediate lobe and posterior lobe, nor an ascending resin flow from the posterior lobe to the median eminence and subependyma. Also failing to be noted were an ascending resin flow from the hypophysis to the hypothalamus and a descending resin flow from hypothalamus to the hypophysis.