In vivo mapping of the vascular changes in skin burns of anaesthetised mice by fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI)

Burns (3 mm in diameter, 50 degrees C, 20 s duration) were induced on the s kin of anaesthetised hairless mice. Anaesthesia was maintained throughout a ll experiments. Subsurface changes in the microvasculature at the burn site were imaged confocally following i.v. injection of fluorescently labelled (FITC) dextran. Blood cells moving through dermal blood vessels were seen a nd recorded on video tape, Multiple adjacent 2-D confocal images of the bur n site and surrounding areas were assembled and enabled microscopic vascula r imaging of the whole burn area (including zones of coagulation, stasis an d hyperaemia) and the surrounding normal vessels. This mapping of the burn area by fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI) in vivo demonstrated good congr uence with vascular casts (Microfil MV-120, Flow tech, USA) made at 4 h pos t burn. This study demonstrates the usefulness of FOCI for in vivo vascular imaging in burns. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.