EFFECT OF HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSED CURRENT AND ALTERNATING-CURRENT ON MACROMOLECULAR LEAKAGE IN HAMSTER-CHEEK POUCH MICROCIRCULATION

Background and Purpose. Electrical stimulation (ES) is supposed to aff ect edema formation by inhibiting macromolecular leakage from microves sels. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of various forms of ES on macromolecular leakage from microvessels. Subjects. Fi fty-three hamsters were randomly assigned to one of seven groups: a co ntrol group (histamine only); groups that received histamine with cath odal high-voltage pulsed current (HVPC) at intensities of 90%, 50%, an d 10% of visible motor threshold (VMT); groups that received anodal HV PC at intensities of 90% and 50% of VMT; and a group that received alt ernating current (AC) at 90% at VMT. Methods. Anesthetized animals wer e injected with fluorescein-labeled dextran. Macromolecular leakage wa s determined by computer analysis of fluorescence microscopy images fo r 5 minutes after treatment. Results. When compared with controls, lea kage was less in groups treated with cathodal HVPC at 90% and 50% of V MT and anodal HVPC at 90% of VMT. Conclusion and Discussion. Cathodal and anodal HVPC, but not AC, curb macromolecular leakage from the micr ovessels of histamine-treated hamsters.