In Vivo Fluorescence Microscopy of Microcirculation in the Renal Cortex of Mice

Abstract

In vivo fluorescence microscopy was used in experimental studies of renal cortical microcirculation in mice. The effects of i.v. infusions of mannitol and iohexol were studied in normal and obese/hyperglycemic mice and in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. All infusions produced marked effects on the distribution and velocity of cortical blood flow with no differences between iohexol and mannitol. The renal cortical blood flow was inhomogeneous regarding different capillaries and there was an initial rise in the number of capillaries with increased blood flow after infusions of both mannitol and iohexol. The infusions of contrast medium were initially followed by a significantly larger number of capillaries with decreased blood flow in the obese/hyperglycemic mice (p < 0.05) than in the diabetic and nondiabetic mice. The variations in obese/hyperglycemic groups were, however, large. The effects were the same in normal and diabetic animals.