Digital-image analysis of the brain-base arteries in chinchilla, chinchilla laniger (Molina)

This paper attempts to quantitatively characterize the cerebral arterial circle in the chinchilla using a computerized image-analysis system. The sole source of the blood supply to the brain in this animal is the vertebral arteries and the basilar arteries. It was found that the diameter and volume of the basilar artery were over twofold larger than those of cerebral-circle arteries. The total length of the cerebral-circle arteries was approximately two times greater than the length of the basilar artery. A strong correlation between the parameters of the basilar artery and the total volume of the arterial circle was observed, as might be expected. These results suggest that if appropriate geometrical parameters are maintained, the brain can be adequately vascularized, even in the absence of additional blood supply.