The aortic arch gives off two major arteries, the brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery in the chinchilla (Ozdemir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Popesko et al. 1992a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), red squirrel (Aydin 2011), ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011), and rabbit (Craigie 1969; Barone et al. 1973; Noden and De Lahunta 1985; Popesko et al. 1992a). However, the aortic arch in the Syrian hamster releases three major arteries, including the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian arteries, similar to those of rats (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Popesko et al. 1992b;Constantinescu, 2018), mice (Cook 1965; Noden and De Lahunta 1985; Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018), porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013), gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), and spiny mice (Oto et al. 2010). Nevertheless, deviations from the typical pattern of great vessel branching can occur among members of the same species, especially in smaller domestic and laboratory animals (Noden and De Lahunta 1985).
Brachiocephalic trunk
As in the rat (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018), porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), mouse (Cook 1965; Noden and De Lahunta 1985; Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018), spiny mouse (Oto et al. 2010) and gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), the brachiocephalic trunk in the Syrian hamster was given off the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. However, the brachiocephalic trunk releases the left and right common carotid and right subclavian arteries in the chinchilla (Ozdemir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), red squirrel (Aydin 2011), ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011), and rabbit (Barone et al. 1973; Noden and De Lahunta 1985).
Subclavian artery
The subclavian artery in rodents and rabbits is normally given off the internal thoracic and deep cervical, dorsal scapular, vertebral and supreme intercostal arteries. Two (in the mole rat; Aydin et al. 2013; in the guinea pig; Popesko et al. 1992a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003; rat: Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Popesko et al. 1990b), three (in the guinea pig: Cooper and Schiller 1975; in the rabbit: Barone et al. 1973), or four of these arteries (in the rabbit: Popesko et al. 1990a) may be fused into a common stem of origin, called the costocervical trunk. In the present study, three of these arteries formed the costocervical trunk. Moreover, the superficial cervical artery consistently originated from the subclavian artery at the thoracic inlet in the Syrian hamster, similar to that in all reported rodents and rabbits.
Costocervical trunk
The presence of the costocervical trunk is also not mentioned or illustrated in the chinchilla (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), rabbit (Angell-James 1974), red squirrel (Aydin 2011) and ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011). Branches of the costocervical trunk have also not been described in gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013) or paca (Oliveira et al. 2001).
Similar to the guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Popesko et al. 1992a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), paca (Oliveira et al., 2001), gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), rat (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Popesko et al. 1992b), rabbit (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a), and porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), the costocervical trunk emerged separately from the subclavian artery in the Syrian hamster. On the other hand, the right costocervical trunk may arise from a common trunk along with the vertebral artery in the porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003) or along with the deep cervical and internal thoracic arteries in the mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013) from the right subclavian artery. In addition, the left costocervical trunk together with the internal thoracic artery originates from a common trunk from the left subclavian artery in the mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013). Consequently, the costocervical trunk generally takes its origin as a separate trunk from the subclavian artery in rodents and rabbits except in the mole rat and porcupine.
The costocervical trunk generally represents a common trunk for the deep cervical and supreme intercostal arteries in the guinea pig (Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003) and rat (Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), for the supreme intercostal, deep cervical, and descending (dorsal) scapular arteries in the guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975) or for the supreme intercostal, deep cervical and descending (dorsal) scapular arteries in the rabbit (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a). However, the trunk in the Syrian hamster usually consisted of the internal thoracic, supreme intercostal, deep cervical, and dorsal scapular arteries. Therefore, the composition of the trunk varies in rodents and rabbits.
Supreme intercostal artery
As in guinea pigs (Popesko et al. 1992a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), rats (Green, 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), and rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a), the supreme intercostal artery in the Syrian hamster generally originates from the costocervical trunk. However, the supreme intercostal artery directly emerges from the subclavian artery in chinchilla (Ozdemir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018).
No information has been reported regarding the origin of the supreme intercostal artery in the porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), and mouse (Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018).
Dorsal scapular artery (descending scapular artery)
As in rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a) and guinea pigs (Cooper and Schiller 1975), the dorsal scapular artery in the Syrian hamster always emerges from the costocervical trunk. In contrast, the dorsal scapular artery originates directly from the subclavian artery in the red squirrel (Aydin 2011), ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011) and guinea pig (Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003) or forms the superficial cervical artery in chinchilla (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018).
On the other hand, the origin of the dorsal scapular artery was always a common trunk with the deep cervical artery in the Syrian hamster, whereas in the guinea pig, the left dorsal scapular artery may arise most frequently by a common trunk with the vertebral artery (Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003)
The exact origin of the dorsal scapular artery is not documented in rats (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018), mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013), gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), mice (Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018) or paca (Oliveira et al. 2001).
Vertebral artery
There was only one vertebral artery on each half of the thoracic cavity in the Syrian hamster, similar to that in other rodents, including rats (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), mice (Popesko et al. 1992b), porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), chinchilla (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013), red squirrels (Aydin 2011), ground squirrels (Aydin et al. 2011) and gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), as well as rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a). On the other hand, the descriptions of the number of vertebral arteries in the guinea pig differ among authors. The vertebral artery was always double (Cavia porcellus: Popesko et al. 1992a; Shively and Stump 1974) or single (Cava cobya: Cooper and Schiller 1975) on each half of the body. In addition, the two right vertebral arteries were constantly present, but two left vertebral arteries were usually present in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus: Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003).
As in the porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), rat (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 19920b; Constantinescu 2018), mouse (Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018), chinchilla (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Popesko et al. 1992a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), red squirrel (Aydin 2011), ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011), and gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), as well as the rabbit (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a), the vertebral artery in the Syrian hamster generally originated from the subclavian artery.
However, the right vertebral artery in porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003) and the right and left vertebral arteries in the guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975) may arise from the costocervical trunk.
In the guinea pig, the first vertebral artery emerges directly from the subclavian artery, but the second vertebral artery may arise with the left dorsal scapular artery by a common trunk from the subclavian artery (Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003).
Deep cervical artery
No information has been reported regarding the origin of the deep cervical artery in porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), and mouse (Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018).
Similar to guinea pigs (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Popesko et al. 1992a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), rats (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), and rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a), the deep cervical artery always originates from the costocervical trunk in the Syrian hamster. In contrast, the deep cervical artery may arise separately from the subclavian artery in the chinchilla (Ozdemir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013), red squirrel (Aydin 2011), and ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011).
However, the right deep cervical artery emerged with the internal thoracic artery and costocervical trunk in the mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013). In addition, the deep cervical artery may arise from a common trunk from the subclavian artery in the red squirrel (Aydin 2011) and ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011). In contrast, the deep cervical artery in the Syrian hamster was removed from the dorsal scapular artery by a common trunk.
Superficial cervical artery
The superficial cervical artery in the Syrian hamster originated separately from the subclavian artery, similar to that in the guinea pig (Popesko et al. 1990a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003) rabbit (Popesko et al. 1992a), rat (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), chinchilla (Ozdemir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), red squirrel (Aydin 2011), mouse (Constantinescu 2018), and ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011).
However, the superficial cervical artery, together with the deep cervical and suprascapular arteries, emerge from a short common trunk from the subclavian artery in the red squirrel (Aydin 2011) and ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011). In addition, the right superficial cervical artery originates from the external thoracic artery by a common trunk from the right subclavian artery in the mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013).
In porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), the exact origin of the superficial cervical artery is not documented. Consequently, the superficial cervical artery independently originates from the subclavian artery in rodents except in squirrels and mole rats.
Bronchoesophageal artery
The exact origin of the bronchoesophageal artery is not documented in mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), red squirrels (Aydin 2011), ground squirrels (Aydin et al. 2011), gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a), porcupines (Atalar et al. 2003), rats (Green 1963; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), mice (Constantinescu 2018), or chinchillas (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018). However, the bronchoesophageal artery in the Syrian hamster was usually detached either from the supreme intercostal artery in 50% of cases or from the internal thoracic artery in 50% of cases. On the other hand, the bronchoesophageal artery in the rat is detached from the internal thoracic artery (Hebel and Stromberg 1976) or from the thoracic aorta (Popesko et al. 1992b). The bronchoesophageal artery may also arise from the costocervical trunk (most frequently), right subclavian artery, or the internal thoracic artery in the guinea pig (Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003). Thus, the general origin of the bronchoesophageal artery exhibited significant differences between rodents and rabbits.
Internal thoracic artery
The internal thoracic artery in the Syrian hamster usually originates from a common trunk with the supreme intercostal artery from the subclavian artery, similar to that reported in rabbits (Angell-James 1974), red squirrels (Aydin 2011), and ground squirrels (Aydin et al. 2011). However, the right internal thoracic artery together with the deep cervical artery and costocervical trunk may arise from a common trunk from the right subclavian artery, or the left internal thoracic artery originates from the costocervical trunk by a common trunk from the left subclavian artery in the mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013).
On the other hand, the internal thoracic artery arises independently from the subclavian artery in various rodents, including rats (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b; Constantinescu 2018), chinchillas (Martonos et al. 2018), guinea pigs (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Popesko et al. 1990a; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), mice (Constantinescu 2018), gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), and rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1990a).
External thoracic artery
The external thoracic artery is released from the left and right subclavian arteries in mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013), but such an artery does not emerge from the subclavian artery in the Syrian hamster, similar to that of various rodents, including rats (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Walker and Homberger 1997; Popesko et al. 1992b), mice (Popesko et al. 1992b), porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), chinchilla (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), mole rats (Aydin et al. 2013), red squirrels (Aydin 2011), ground squirrels (Aydin et al. 2011) and gerbils (Oliveira et al. 2018), as well as rabbits (Barone et al. 1973; Popesko et al. 1992a).
The order of branches arising from the subclavian artery
The order in which the artery arose from the subclavian artery showed several variations in the Syrian hamster, other rodents and rabbit.
The first branch arising from the dorsal surface of the subclavian artery exhibited variations in rodents and rabbits. The first branch was the costocervical trunk in the mole rat (Aydin et al. 2013), guinea pig (Cooper and Schiller 1975; Kabak and Hazriroglu 2003), rabbit (Popesko et al. 1992a), rat (Green 1963; Hebel and Stromberg 1976; Popesko et al. 1992b), mouse (Constantinescu, 2018) or vertebral artery in the rabbit (Barone et al. 1973; Angell-James 1974), paca (Oliveira et al. 2001), gerbil (Oliveira et al. 2018), porcupine (Atalar et al. 2003), mouse (Popesko et al. 1992b) and ground squirrel (Aydin et al. 2011) or the supreme intercostal artery in the chinchilla (Ozamir et al. 2008; Martonos et al. 2018), mouse (Popesko et al. 2011). In this study, the coscervical trunk was the first branch arising from the subclavian artery.
The superficial cervical artery in the Syrian hamster was the last branch, usually arising from the dorsal surface of the subclavian artery, similar to that seen in all reported rodents and rabbits.