Chapter 11. Intravital microscopic investigation of leukocyte interactions with the blood vessel wall

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Intravital microscopy is a key technique for observing microcirculation in living tissues.
• Various illumination methods like transillumination and epifluorescence are employed.
• Recent technological advancements have significantly improved imaging capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the applications of intravital microscopy in studying microcirculation.
• To highlight advancements in imaging techniques for enhanced visualization.
• To focus on the application of these techniques in analyzing leukocyte-vascular wall interactions.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes transillumination, oblique reflected light illumination, and epifluorescence microscopy.
• Incorporates advanced laser scanning, spinning disk confocal, and multi-photon microscopy.
• Employs blood-perfused flow chambers and microfluidic devices for cell interaction studies.

Main Results:

• Demonstrates the visualization of specific cells and molecules within the microcirculation.
• Highlights the enhanced capabilities provided by laser scanning and confocal microscopy.
• Shows the utility of flow chambers and microfluidics for studying cell-substrate interactions.

Conclusions:

• Intravital microscopy, with its technological advancements, offers powerful insights into microcirculation.
• Advanced imaging techniques enable detailed study of cellular and molecular interactions in vivo.
• The described methods are crucial for understanding leukocyte interactions with the vascular wall.