Origin of the v. portae and variability of its tributaries in laboratory animals. V. The golden (Syrian) hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

The authors studied the origin and variability of the v. portae in 30 adult golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) of both sexes after injecting blue-dyed latex into their portal bed. In 16 cases (53.3%) the v. portae was formed from three tributaries and in 11 cases (36.7%) from four. The v. mesenterica cranialis was the only constant tributary, the v. lienalis was a tributary in 28 cases (93.3%) and the other most frequent tributaries were the v. gastroduodenalis and the v. pancreaticoduodenalis cranialis. In one case there was an anastomosis between the v. portae and the v. cava caudalis. In 25 cases (83.3%) the v. gastrica sinistra joined the v. lienalis, in four (13.3%) it was an independent tributary of the v. portae and in one case (3.3%) it was duplicated. A v. cardiaca was found in 25 cases (83.3%), when it was most frequently a tributary of the v. gastroepiploica sinistra and v. gastrica sinistra. In one case only it was an independent tributary of the v. portae. A v. pylorica was observed in 29 cases (96.7%), usually (in 17 cases--56.7%) as a tributary of the v. gastroepiploica dextra; in three cases it was an independent tributary of the v. portae (10.0%). A v. pancreaticoduodenalis cranialis was formed in 28 cases (93.3%). In 12 cases (40.0%), together with the v. gastroepiploica dextra, it was a tributary of the v. gastroduodenalis and in eight cases (26.7%) it was an independent tributary of the v. portae. In two cases (6.7%) the two vv. pancreaticoduodenales united to form v. pancreaticoduodenalis communis. In three cases (10.0%) this vein was duplicated and in one case it was triplicated. A v. gastroepiploica dextra was found in 26 cases (86.7%) and a v. gastroepiploica sinistra in 22 (73.3%). Both veins occurred simultaneously in 19 cases (63.3%). In no case, however, was there a continuous venous arc along the curvatura major ventriculi. A v. lienalis was present in 28 cases (93.3%). It was absent in two cases (6.7%), in which it was replaced by inter-organ anastomoses with the stomach and pancreas. In 19 cases (63.3%), the v. gastroepiploica sinistra and v. gastrica sinistra were both its main tributaries and in five cases (16.7%) its main tributary was the v. gastrica sinistra. In one case the v. lienalis was duplicated. Inter-organ anastomoses were formed in all 30 cases (100%). They occurred between the spleen and the stomach in 27 cases (90%) and between the spleen and the pancreas in 28 cases (93.3%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS