Red blood cell velocity and volumetric flow assessment by enhanced high-resolution laser Doppler imaging in separate vessels of the hamster cheek pouch microcirculation
H. Golster et al., Red blood cell velocity and volumetric flow assessment by enhanced high-resolution laser Doppler imaging in separate vessels of the hamster cheek pouch microcirculation, MICROVASC R, 58(1), 1999, pp. 62-73
An enhanced high-resolution laser Doppler imager (EHR-LDI), configured to f
it the demands of a measurement area containing separate microvessels, was
evaluated for perfusion measurements in hamster cheek pouch preparations du
ring ischemia, reperfusion, and pharmacologically induced vasodilation and
vasoconstriction. Measurements in separate microvessels where the laser bea
m was smaller than the vessel diameter were referred to as red blood cell (
RBC) velocity estimates, as previously validated in vitro, whereas a relati
ve how index, RFI (mean RBC velocity/tissue area), was introduced as a volu
metric dow measure. Microvessel diameter and RBC velocity changes during is
chemia, reperfusion, as well as during vasoconstriction and vasodilation co
rrelated to the data obtained from the microscope. Correspondingly, during
the described provocations anticipated volumetric dow changes were register
ed as changes in the RFI. When data on intravessel RBC velocity profiles ar
e presented they reflect a parabolic flow profile usually seen in this size
microvessel. The EHR-LDI appears a promising tool for investigation of the
microvasculature, as it almost simultaneously provides information on rela
tive changes of both in vivo RBC velocity and volumetric flow (RFI), althou
gh the latter estimate needs to be further refined. (C) 1999 Academic Press
.