METHODS FOR STUDYING MICROVASCULAR BARRIER FUNCTION IN ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is accompanied by functional disturb ances in the microcirculation that often translate into significant mo rbidity and mortality. We present an overview of methods to evaluate m icrovascular barrier properties and how these methods can be applied t o the study of I/R injury. included is a summary of techniques for mea suring 1) fluid and macromolecule flux from the vascular compartment i nto the interstitia[ space of tissues and 2) the permeability paramete rs of microvascular wall. Several experimental models will be surveyed including whole animal, isolated organ, individually perfused microve ssels and cultured endothelial cells using examples from our own studi es and work of other investigators relating to I/R-induced endothelial injury. The strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches ar e discussed.