Volume 53 (2003) Issue: 2003 No#2-3

DISTRIBUTION OF LEFT CORONARY ARTERY BRANCHES IN THE AFRICAN GREEN MONKEY

Author(s): Nikolić Valentina, Blagojević Zdenka, Malobabić S, Aranđelović Aleksandra, Malić M, Parapid Teofilovski Gordana, Stanković I

Keywords:left coronary artery, branches, Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus

This study of distribution of the left coronary artery (LCA) in the African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus) was undertaken in order to determine the coronary artery epicardial network of this terrestrial primate. Insufficient data about these characteristics of LCA is a serious obstacle for widespread use of this species for experimental purposes. A total of 55 hearts from adult monkeys of both sexes (35 females and 25 males) was examined. These hearts were divided into two groups: group A- corrosive heart specimens and group B- specimens prepared for micro dissection The blood supply of the Cercopithecus heart is obtaine through two arteries (98%), the left and right coronary artery which originated from corresponding aortic sinuses at the angles characteristic for human coronary arteries. The left coronary artery of Cercopithecus terminated by bifurcation into the ramus interventricularis arterior (RIA) and circumflex artery (RCx). It was possible, as in the human heart, to detect the short (58%) and long (42%) type of circumflex branch. In 24% of cases LCA terminated by trifurcation giving RIA, RCx and RMS (ramus marginalis sinister). RIA had greater caliber than RCx in 58% of cases, whereas both arteries were of equal caliber in 16% and RCx was larger than RIA in 25% of cases. The branch for the sinuatrial node arose from LCA in 14.5% of cases, and from RCx in 63.3%. RCx most frequently terminated (56.3%) as a posterior left ventricular branch, less frequently (38.3%) as a posterior interventricular branch, rarely (3.6%) as a posterior right ventricular branch and exceptionally (1.8%) as a left marginal branch. The results of our research clearly suggest great resemblance of the morphology of the left coronary artery distribution in humans and Cercopithecus. Therefore this terrestrial primate can be used as an adequate experimental model for functional studies of the cardiovascular system.