Effects of Yahom on the regional cerebral blood flow in rat using fluorescence videomicroscopy.

This study was conducted to investigate effects of Yahom on the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in rats using fluorescence videomicroscopy. Male Wistar Furth rats weighing 200-250 g were used, and divided into three groups: experimental I, II and control groups. The experimental I and II groups received single oral administration of Yahom 2 and 4 g/kg.bw, and topical application of Yahom on the pial cerebral cortex, respectively, while the control group received oral administration of 1 ml of 5% Tween. The rCBF was monitored using laser Doppler flowmetry at different periods (5-120 minutes) after the administration of Yahom or Tween. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured through a femoral artery. The cerebral microcirculation was observed and recorded under an intravital fluorescence videomicroscopic system. The arteriolar diameter was measured based on the recorded videomicroscopic images. The MAP and rCBF increased after the oral administration of Yahom, while they did not alter in the control group. The maximum responses of MAP and rCBF were approximately 16% and 33% at 45 min and 30 min after the administration of Yahom 4 g/kg.bw, respectively. The topical application of Yahom induced vasodilation in the pial microvessels. In conclusion, single oral administration of Yahom may increase the regional cerebral blood flow under the effect of cerebral microvascular vasodilation.

Chronic changes of the iris microvasculature of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using fluorescence videomicroscopy.

This study was aimed to investigate chronic changes of the iris microvasculature in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar-Furth rats by intravenous injection of STZ (55 mg/kg.bw). The rats were divided into control (CON) and diabetic (STZ) groups. The experiments were performed at 8, 12, 24 and 36 weeks after the injection of STZ. The iris microcirculation was visualized under a fluorescence videomicroscope. Intraluminal diameters of microvessels were measured based on the FITC-dextran images. Leukocyte adhesion to the microvascular endothelium was evaluated by counting leukocytes (labeled with rhodamine 6G). The iris blood perfusion was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. Tissue lipid peroxidation of the eye was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the lipid peroxidation increased significantly after the injection of STZ. Both the diameters of arterioles (or precapillaries) and the iris blood perfusion decreased significantly in STZ rats, compared to the control levels. Adherent leukocytes increased significantly at 8, 12, 24 and 36 week after the injection of STZ, compared with the control levels. This indicates that the increased in oxygen-derived free radicals may be a major contributor for iris vascular endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus, including leukocyte adhesion and reducing the arteriolar diameter. The present model may be useful for assessing long-term effects of therapeutic agents on diabetic retinopathy.