Vascular supply pattern to rat caudatoputamen and globus pallidus: scanning electronmicroscopic study of vascular endocasts of stroke-prone vessels

The caudatoputamen (CP) and globus pallidus (GP) are supplied by vessels often involved with stroke in both rat and human. The pattern of vascular supply to the CP and GP in rat has, in contrast to humans, been only partially described. The vascular pattern to the rat CP and GP is described utilizing vascular endocasts and scanning electronmicroscopy in aging, normotensive rats. Endocasts were produced by intra-cardiac infusion of Batson's Corrosion Compound. The vascular pattern is complex, involving 1) recurrent vessels from the anterior cerebral artery, 2) branches from the arterial circle rostral or caudal to the origin of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), 3) up to 6 branches from the MCA, and 4) 2 major branches from the caudal part of the arterial circle. The vessels in groups 1--3 were serpentine, their luminal diameters abruptly reduced at branch points, and the angle of departure from the parent vessels approximated 90 degrees. These vessels supplied much of the CP and GP, while group 4 supplied the caudal CP with vessels arranged in a lattice-like fashion from the 2 penetrating parental arteries.