Arterio-venous anastomoses in rainbow trout gill filaments: a scanning and transmission electron microscopic study

The origin of arterio-venous anastomoses, connecting the efferent filament artery (EFA) with the central venous sinus (CVS) of gill filaments can be well discerned by scanning electron microscopy in the rainbow trout. Corresponding vessels between the afferent filament artery and the CVS could not be detected with the techniques applied. AVA-specific endothelial cells are characterized by their bulky shape and their microvillous surface. The general morphology of AVA's in Salmo gairdneri is very similar to that of AVA's in Tilapia mossambica (Vogel et al., 1974) but they are much longer in the trout. No filament whorls have been encountered in AVA endothelia of Salmo gairdneri.