Ultrasonographical, Morphological and Histological Studies on Jugular Vein Conduit of Cattle and Buffalo

Xenografting using bovine jugular vein (BJV) (Vv.jugulars) valved conduit is recently introduced for reconstruction of different cardiovascular disorders. Commercially prepared conduit needs a standard technique for selection of suitable animal and jugular vein segment with ideal characters of Valved conduit. The present study was carried out on 10 adult healthy animals (5 cattle (Bos-Taurus) and 5 buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)) and 10 cadaveric BJV specimens collected from slaughtered healthy adult animals (5 cattle and 5 buffaloes). The study aimed to establish a standard method for choosing the suitable animal and segment of JV that would be used for post-slaughtering collection of conduits. Ultrasonographically, morphological and histological characteristics of JV in cattle and buffaloes were also studied and compared. Ultrasonography of JV was performed along its length from the mandible till the thoracic inlet. The assessed ultrasonographic JV features included; vein lumen width (VLW), JV wall thickness (VWT), distance between valves and venous wall gray scale analysis. Ultrasonographically, venous tricuspid valve appeared in both planes (sagittal and transverse) of the 4th quarter segment in both animals. The VLW; significantly increase in cattle than buffaloes. The VWT; significantly increased in buffaloes than in cattle. Morphologically, CJV has less thick and less tough wall; and wider lumen when compared with BJV. Histologically, JV wall is 3-layered; tunica intima (inside), tunica media and tunica adventitia (outside) and the wall thickness of BJV are thicker than CJV. In conclusion, the 4th quarter of CJV is the most appropriate segment advised for post-mortem collection of JV conduits. Ultrasonography is an essential, prerequisite technique for choosing the suitable animal and the perfect segment of JV conduits.