The development of the vasculature of the pelvic fin in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri.

Abstract

The development of the vasculature of the pelvic fin in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, was studied by the dye-injection method. The primitive iliac artery of the primitive iliocecal artery which originates in the dorsal aorta drains into the posterior cardinal vein. As development proceeds, the primitive iliac artery penetrates the fin anlage, and finally becomes the pelvic fin artery. The chief venous channel in the fin anlage draining into the posterior cardinal vein is the pelvic fin vein. The arterio-venous condition in the pelvic fin anlage in this animal changes successively as follows: 1) one artery and one vein, 2) two arteries and one vein, 3) two arteries and two veins. The postaxial arterial element elongates to be located in the preaxial region, and the postaxial vein is located in the postaxial region from beginning to end.