Abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate the microvascular structures of a case of subadult female leopard (Panthera pardus)that had died from wound in captivity,by using the microvascular casting method to provide useful information and evidence to the study of respiratory physiology in animals. The results observed through the scanning electron microscope (SEM)indicated that the arterioles of the lung and pleura are formed by the ramification of small arteries (0.3 -1.0 mm diameter),pre-capillary arterioles (11 - 15 μm diameter),and capillaries (4.5 - 7.0 μm diameter). There are extensive connections in capillarity networks of blood vessels,including bridge connections between adjacent alveoli holes that form the irregular alveolar-capillary network. Our findings suggest that the dense and stereo capillary network is an important feature of the lung microvasculature in snow leopard,and is similar to those in human,mouse,rabbit,yak, sheep,Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and bactrian camel,but different from those in birds,reptiles,and amphibians.

Key words: Lung, Microvascular architecture, Panthera pardus

关键词: 金钱豹, 肺, 微血管构筑