Microvascular research
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Microvascular research · Jan 2013
Estradiol receptors agonists induced effects in rat intestinal microcirculation during sepsis.
The steroid hormone estradiol is suggested to play a protective role in intestinal injury during systemic inflammation (sepsis). Our aim was to determine the effects of specific estradiol receptor (ER-α and ER-ß) agonists on the intestinal microcirculation during experimental sepsis. Male and sham ovariectomized female rats were subjected to sham colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP), and they were compared to male and ovariectomized female rats underwent CASP and either estradiol receptor α (ER-α) agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), estradiol receptor ß (ER-ß) agonist diarylpropiolnitrile (DPN), or vehicle treatment. ⋯ Male; Leukocyte adhesion (n/mm(2)) V(1) 154.8±19.2 vs 70±10.5, V(3) 115.5±23.1 vs 52.8±9.6]. Those results suggest that the observed effects of estradiol receptors on different phases of leukocytes recruitment with the improvement of the functional capillary density could partially explain the previous demonstrated salutary effects of estradiol on the intestinal microcirculation during sepsis. The observed activity of this class of compounds could open up a new avenue of research into the potential treatment of sepsis.
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Microvascular research · Jan 2013
In vivo evaluation of venular glycocalyx during hemorrhagic shock in rats using intravital microscopy.
Hemorrhage is responsible for a large percentage of trauma-related deaths but the mechanisms underlying tissue ischemia are complex and not well understood. Despite the evidence linking glycocalyx degradation and hemorrhagic shock, there is no direct data obtained in vivo showing glycocalyx thickness reduction in skeletal muscle venules after hemorrhage. We hypothesize that damage to the endothelial glycocalyx is a key element in hemorrhage pathophysiology and tested the hypothesis that hemorrhage causes glycocalyx degradation in cremaster muscle microvessels. ⋯ Venular glycocalyx thickness and local blood flow changes were correlated: venules with the greatest flow reductions showed the largest decreases in glycocalyx. These changes may have a significant impact in shock pathophysiology. Intravital microscopy and integrated systems such as the one described here may be important tools to identify mechanisms by which resuscitation fluids may improve tissue recovery and outcome following hemorrhage.