Technical report--a new chamber technique for microvascular studies in unanesthetized hamsters

An experimental model was designed for direct, quantitative studies of hemodynamic and morphologic parameters in the microcirculation. It consists of implanting a modified Algire chamber in the dorsal skin flap of hamsters and the implementation of two permanent catheters in jugular vein and carotid artery. The microcirculation was studied using intravital microscopy and television techniques for in situ measurements of blood cell velocity and vascular diameters. Due to the poor contrast between blood cells, blood capillaries and surrounding s.c. tissue, microvascular beds were visualized using fluorescent microscopy after i.v. injection of 0.2 ml of 5% FITC-Dextran 150. The combination of optical elements and low amounts of FITC-Dextran improved the contrast of the televised image without changing macro- and micro-hemodynamic parameters, and blood plasma was delineated as bright structure against the substantially darker background of red blood cells and surrounding tissue. This permitted the quantitative study of practically all blood vessels within a given field of s.c. tissue in unanesthetized animals. Blood cell velocity in arterioles was 0.7-1.1 mm/s, 0.2-0.7 mm/s in midcapillaries and reached 0.6 mm/s in collecting venules. Since i.v. injection of drugs and systemic pressure measurements are possible in this model, it provides a unique means for studying the reactivity of the microcirculation over a prolonged period.