Dorsal aortic and organ blood flow decrease following Stanniectomy in freshwater North American eels (Anguilla rostrata LeSueur)

Abstract

Dorsal aortic and regional blood flow rates were measured in freshwater North American eels using the radiolabeled microspheres method. Dorsal aortic blood flow was 28.6 ± 4.2 ml/min/kg (N = 6) in intact controls and 29.5 ± 3.3 ml/min/kg (N = 6) in sham-operated controls. The dorsal aortic blood flow decreased to 14.6 ± 1.5 ml/min/kg (N = 6), 12–16 days after the removal of the corpuscles of Stannius. Stanniectomy was followed by a lowered blood flow to most internal and peripheral (skin and fins) organs. Although dorsal aortic blood flow was reduced by 50%, there were few significant changes in the regional distribution of blood flow. The reduced gill and organ perfusion may, in part, lead to the electrolyte disturbances that are known to follow Stanniectomy.