Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)

The glymphatic system, an analog of the peripheral lymphatic system in the brain, and the meningeal lymphatic system are critical to central nervous system health. The glymphatic system functions to distribute cerebrospinal fluid and important compounds throughout the brain and to remove metabolic w...

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Main Authors: Olivia N. Jackson, Tiffany F. Keenan, Nathan P. Nelson-Maney, Sentiel A. Rommel, William A. McLellan, D. Ann Pabst, Alexander M. Costidis, Kathleen M. Caron, Dawn N. Kernagis, David S. Rotstein, Victoria G. Thayer, Craig A. Harms, Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov, Paul Doshkov, Lorian E. Schweikert, Kara E. Yopak, Molly Braun, Michael S. Tift
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/729
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author Olivia N. Jackson
Tiffany F. Keenan
Nathan P. Nelson-Maney
Sentiel A. Rommel
William A. McLellan
D. Ann Pabst
Alexander M. Costidis
Kathleen M. Caron
Dawn N. Kernagis
David S. Rotstein
Victoria G. Thayer
Craig A. Harms
Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov
Paul Doshkov
Lorian E. Schweikert
Kara E. Yopak
Molly Braun
Michael S. Tift
author_facet Olivia N. Jackson
Tiffany F. Keenan
Nathan P. Nelson-Maney
Sentiel A. Rommel
William A. McLellan
D. Ann Pabst
Alexander M. Costidis
Kathleen M. Caron
Dawn N. Kernagis
David S. Rotstein
Victoria G. Thayer
Craig A. Harms
Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov
Paul Doshkov
Lorian E. Schweikert
Kara E. Yopak
Molly Braun
Michael S. Tift
author_sort Olivia N. Jackson
collection DOAJ
description The glymphatic system, an analog of the peripheral lymphatic system in the brain, and the meningeal lymphatic system are critical to central nervous system health. The glymphatic system functions to distribute cerebrospinal fluid and important compounds throughout the brain and to remove metabolic waste. The flow of cerebrospinal fluid through this system is affected by changes in cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, and vascular tone. Cetaceans experience profound cardiorespiratory alterations while diving that can directly affect cerebrospinal fluid and blood flow and, thus, glymphatic function. Our goal was to investigate glymphatic and lymphatic system structures, including perivascular spaces, aquaporin-4 water channels, meningeal lymphatic, and dural venous sinus vessels in the common dolphin (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>), using immunofluorescent labeling, histochemical staining, and postmortem computed tomography (CT) angiography. We highlight perivascular spaces and aquaporin-4 water channels surrounding blood vessels in the parenchyma and demonstrate evidence of meningeal lymphatic vessels and associated dural venous sinuses. These results demonstrate that common dolphins possess the key anatomical structures required for functional glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems. Future studies can build upon these anatomical discoveries to study the function and role of these systems in brain health in this species.
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spelling doaj-art-4db02027bc7349bfacee953cc267d12e2025-08-20T02:59:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115572910.3390/ani15050729Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)Olivia N. Jackson0Tiffany F. Keenan1Nathan P. Nelson-Maney2Sentiel A. Rommel3William A. McLellan4D. Ann Pabst5Alexander M. Costidis6Kathleen M. Caron7Dawn N. Kernagis8David S. Rotstein9Victoria G. Thayer10Craig A. Harms11Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov12Paul Doshkov13Lorian E. Schweikert14Kara E. Yopak15Molly Braun16Michael S. Tift17Department of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USADEEP, Bristol BS11 8AR, UKMarine Mammal Pathology Services, Olney, MD 28032, USACenter for Marine Science and Technologies, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC 28557, USACenter for Marine Science and Technologies, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC 28557, USANorth Carolina Aquariums Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head, NC 27959, USACape Hatteras National Seashore, Manteo, NC 27954, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USADepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USAThe glymphatic system, an analog of the peripheral lymphatic system in the brain, and the meningeal lymphatic system are critical to central nervous system health. The glymphatic system functions to distribute cerebrospinal fluid and important compounds throughout the brain and to remove metabolic waste. The flow of cerebrospinal fluid through this system is affected by changes in cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, and vascular tone. Cetaceans experience profound cardiorespiratory alterations while diving that can directly affect cerebrospinal fluid and blood flow and, thus, glymphatic function. Our goal was to investigate glymphatic and lymphatic system structures, including perivascular spaces, aquaporin-4 water channels, meningeal lymphatic, and dural venous sinus vessels in the common dolphin (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>), using immunofluorescent labeling, histochemical staining, and postmortem computed tomography (CT) angiography. We highlight perivascular spaces and aquaporin-4 water channels surrounding blood vessels in the parenchyma and demonstrate evidence of meningeal lymphatic vessels and associated dural venous sinuses. These results demonstrate that common dolphins possess the key anatomical structures required for functional glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems. Future studies can build upon these anatomical discoveries to study the function and role of these systems in brain health in this species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/729brainglymphaticmeningeal lymphaticmarine mammalcetaceanmorphology
spellingShingle Olivia N. Jackson
Tiffany F. Keenan
Nathan P. Nelson-Maney
Sentiel A. Rommel
William A. McLellan
D. Ann Pabst
Alexander M. Costidis
Kathleen M. Caron
Dawn N. Kernagis
David S. Rotstein
Victoria G. Thayer
Craig A. Harms
Marina A. Piscitelli-Doshkov
Paul Doshkov
Lorian E. Schweikert
Kara E. Yopak
Molly Braun
Michael S. Tift
Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)
Animals
brain
glymphatic
meningeal lymphatic
marine mammal
cetacean
morphology
title Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)
title_full Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)
title_fullStr Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)
title_short Meningeal Lymphatic and Glymphatic Structures in a Pelagic Delphinid (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>)
title_sort meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic structures in a pelagic delphinid i delphinus delphis i
topic brain
glymphatic
meningeal lymphatic
marine mammal
cetacean
morphology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/729
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