Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin
Abstract In humans and mice, the glymphatic system, critical for central nervous system (CNS) health, relies on cardiorespiratory coupling, but has not yet been investigated in a diving mammal that routinely experiences apnea, bradycardia, and peripheral vasoconstriction. The glymphatic and meningea...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14840-0 |
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| author | Tiffany F. Keenan Olivia N. Jackson 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 Molly Braun Michael S. Tift |
| author_facet | Tiffany F. Keenan Olivia N. Jackson 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 Molly Braun Michael S. Tift |
| author_sort | Tiffany F. Keenan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In humans and mice, the glymphatic system, critical for central nervous system (CNS) health, relies on cardiorespiratory coupling, but has not yet been investigated in a diving mammal that routinely experiences apnea, bradycardia, and peripheral vasoconstriction. The glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems maintain CNS homeostasis by distributing nutrients and clearing metabolic waste via cerebrospinal fluid. We investigated meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic structures in stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus; n = 9) using immunofluorescence microscopy, histochemical staining, and CT angiography. Results demonstrate that the bottlenose dolphin possesses prominent perivascular spaces and aquaporin-4 astroglial water channels required for glymphatic function, as well as meningeal lymphatic vessels in close anatomic proximity to dural venous sinuses, required for a functional meningeal lymphatic system. Notably, we also identified arachnoid granulations involved in cerebrospinal fluid resorption, marking the first such observation in this species. This study provides evidence of both glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems in the most well-studied cetacean, the bottlenose dolphin. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dbb4d79241454da78321d04bc4c60df0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dbb4d79241454da78321d04bc4c60df02025-08-24T11:18:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-14840-0Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphinTiffany F. Keenan0Olivia N. Jackson1Nathan P. Nelson-Maney2Sentiel A. Rommel3William A. McLellan4D. Ann Pabst5Alexander M. Costidis6Kathleen M. Caron7Dawn N. Kernagis8David S. Rotstein9Molly Braun10Michael S. Tift11Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonDepartment of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of MedicineDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonDepartment of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of MedicineDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of MedicineMarine Mammal Pathology ServicesDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta UniversityDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina WilmingtonAbstract In humans and mice, the glymphatic system, critical for central nervous system (CNS) health, relies on cardiorespiratory coupling, but has not yet been investigated in a diving mammal that routinely experiences apnea, bradycardia, and peripheral vasoconstriction. The glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems maintain CNS homeostasis by distributing nutrients and clearing metabolic waste via cerebrospinal fluid. We investigated meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic structures in stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus; n = 9) using immunofluorescence microscopy, histochemical staining, and CT angiography. Results demonstrate that the bottlenose dolphin possesses prominent perivascular spaces and aquaporin-4 astroglial water channels required for glymphatic function, as well as meningeal lymphatic vessels in close anatomic proximity to dural venous sinuses, required for a functional meningeal lymphatic system. Notably, we also identified arachnoid granulations involved in cerebrospinal fluid resorption, marking the first such observation in this species. This study provides evidence of both glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems in the most well-studied cetacean, the bottlenose dolphin.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14840-0 |
| spellingShingle | Tiffany F. Keenan Olivia N. Jackson 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 Molly Braun Michael S. Tift Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin Scientific Reports |
| title | Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin |
| title_full | Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin |
| title_fullStr | Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin |
| title_short | Morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin |
| title_sort | morphology of the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic structures of the bottlenose dolphin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14840-0 |
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