Abstract.
Introduction: In cutaneous lymphocytic inflammation, enhanced regional blood flow is suggested by persistent erythema and warmth. Direct assessment of the microcirculation, however, has been limited by tissue edema and skin thickness.¶Methods: To assess the microcirculatory adaptations to the epicutaneous antigen oxazolone, we studied the first pass kinetics and microvascular topography of the inflammatory skin microcirculation using a specially adapted epi-illumination intravital microscopy system. The fluorescence intravital videomicroscopy and streaming image acquisition of fluorescein-labeled dextran (∼500,000 MW) injections were used to assess changes in plasma flow.¶Results: Direct plasma tracer injections of both the oxazolone-stimulated and control microcirculation demonstrated comparable transit times (leading edge and intensity-weighted peak times) from the carotid artery to the superficial vascular plexus (p>0.05). In contrast to transit times, continuous infusion of the plasma tracer demonstrated a significant increase in the delivery of the fluorescein-labeled dextran to the oxazolone-stimulated microcirculation. Quantitative morphometry of intravital microscopic images demonstrated a 2.2-fold increase in the mean diameter of vessels in the superficial vascular plexus (p<0.01). Further, fluorescence intensity mapping indicated that the increase was associated with increased perfusion of focal regions of the superficial vascular plexus (p<0.001).¶Conclusions: These results indicate that the oxazolone-stimulated adaptations of the inflammatory microcirculation include both microvascular dilatation and the redistribution of plasma flow.
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Received 18 January 2002; returned for revision 25 April 2002; accepted by G. Letts 28 June 2002
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ID="*"Correspondence to: S. J. Mentzer
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West, C., He, C., Young, A. et al. Spatial variation of plasma flow in the oxazolone-stimulated microcirculation. Inflamm. res. 51, 572–578 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00012431
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00012431