title: Hemodynamics of the pectinis oculi artery in American pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure blood velocity parameters of the main detectable branch of the pectinis oculi artery and compare with values found in other arteries in other species to form a hypothesis of the function of the pecten oculi in birds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven American pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) without ocular diseases were examined with ocular Doppler ultrasonography. The pectinate artery resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of RI and PI values resulted, respectively, in: left eye (0.43 ± 0.07; 0.58 ± 0.13), right eye (0.37 ± 0.09; 0.47 ± 0.14), and both eyes (0.40 ± 0.08; 0.53 ± 0.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low RI and PI values found in the main branch of the pectinis oculi artery compared with other arteries in other tissues suggest a high metabolic activity in the pecten oculi, and it could indicate a nutritional function and/or intraocular pressure regulation.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Alegre C
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amália
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner Giannico
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medicine Department, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, 80035-050, Curitiba-PR, Brazil. montiani@ufpr.br.
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montiani-Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology*; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: avian ophthalmology; blood velocity parameter; pecten oculi; pectinis oculi artery; pulsatility index; resistive index