Facial vessels of desert camel (Camelus dromedarius): role in brain cooling.

The reactivity of the superficial veins of the camel was investigated in vitro in response to stretch, heat, norepinephrine, and transmural nerve stimulation (TNS). Stretch at 30 degrees C or 37 degrees C produced a maintained tone and phasic contractions of the facial and nasal veins. The developed tone increased significantly with increasing the temperature (from 30 to 45 degrees C), especially in the proximal part of the buccal facial vein. Norepinephrine caused a constrictor response in the facial vein with the proximal part showing a lower maximum. TNS evoked a constrictor response in proximal segment and a dilator response in the more proximal segment of the buccal facial vein. Either responses were blocked by bretylium or tetrodotoxin. Morphological examination of the vasoactive segment of the facial vein showed a thick muscular layer and a valve in the proximal segment of the buccal facial vein. These results show functional variation in the distribution of adrenoceptors in the facial vein. The high-temperature sensitivity of the buccal facial vein suggests that this part could serve as a temperature-sensitive sphincter that diverts cool nasal blood to the brain for selective cooling of the camel brain during heat stress.