CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY FOR STRUCTURE AND REAL-TIME PHARMACOLOGY IN BLOOD-VESSELS

The structure and composition of living small blood vessels can be stu died in great detail in three dimensions using confocal microscopy. In dividual cells and their components can be visualised by vital dyes fo r the nucleus, cytoplasm or extracellular space. Specific ligands can then localise individual components such as membrane receptors with gr eat precision. Cell function is unaffected, allowing the study, in rea l time, of the changing relation and contribution to vascular contract ion or dilatation of different cell types particularly smooth muscle, endothelium and adventitia. This allows not only visualisation but qua ntification, using image analysis software, These techniques will be o f particular value in assessing the contribution of form to function i n pathological situations such as vascular remodelling in hypertension .