Abstract:
We have evaluated rat glomerular microcirculation under in-vivo condition with an
intravital videomicroscope. To measure erythrocyte velocities, a line segment was
set along the glomerular capillaries in time-sequential videotaped images and then
a spatiotemporal image was constructed along that segment. The angle of striped pattern
in the spatio-temporal image which reflects the erythrocyte velocity, was estimated
to compute erythrocyte velocity vector mapping. We found that erythrocyte velocities
in rat glomeruli were significantly faster in diabetic rats than in control rats (p
<0.05). In conclusion, we have succeeded in quantitatively evaluating the in-vivo
renal microcirculation with our videomicroscope system and by spatiotemporal image
analyzing method.
Keywords:
Erythrocyte Velocity - Glomerulus - Renal Microcirculation - Spatiotemporal Image
- Velocity Mapping