Photoacoustic imaging of in vivo hemodynamic responses to sodium nitroprusside

Dong Zhang1,2, Ran Li3,4, Maomao Chen2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

Insights

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) lowers blood pressure and causes vasodilation in arteries and veins. This study reveals correlations between SNP

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The in vivo hemodynamic effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a common antihypertensive, remain incompletely understood.
  • Investigating SNP's impact on blood vessels and oxygenation is crucial for clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo hemodynamic responses to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) using functional optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM).
  • To analyze SNP-induced changes in systemic blood pressure, arterial and venous vasodilation, and blood oxygenation in both brain and skin tissues in mice.

Main Methods:

  • Functional optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) was employed to monitor hemodynamic changes in vivo.
  • Mice were administered SNP, and subsequent alterations in blood pressure, vessel diameter, and blood oxygenation were quantified in the brain and skin.

Main Results:

  • SNP administration resulted in a 53% reduction in systemic blood pressure.
  • Arterial vasodilation of 24% (brain) and 23% (skin) and venous vasodilation of 9% (brain) and 5% (skin) were observed.
  • Two distinct blood oxygenation responses were noted, with SNP causing either decreases or increases in arterial and venous oxygenation, and a lag in venous oxygenation changes was observed in the skin but not the brain.

Conclusions:

  • SNP induces significant arterial and venous vasodilation and alters blood oxygenation in a complex manner.
  • The findings highlight a correlation between SNP-induced changes in systemic blood pressure, vessel size, and blood oxygenation.
  • OR-PAM provides valuable insights into the in vivo hemodynamic effects of antihypertensive agents like SNP.

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