Noninvasive assessment of vascular structure and function in conscious rats based on in vivo imaging of the albino iris

Harald M Stauss; Kevin R Rarick; Katie M Leick; Jason W Burkle; Diane L Rotella; Michael G Anderson

doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00561.2010

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Noninvasive assessment of vascular structure and function in conscious rats based on in vivo imaging of the albino iris

Journal article

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Noninvasive assessment of vascular structure and function in conscious rats based on in vivo imaging of the albino iris

Harald M Stauss, Kevin R Rarick, Katie M Leick, Jason W Burkle, Diane L Rotella and Michael G Anderson

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, Vol.300(6), pp.R1333-R1343

06/2011

DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00561.2010

PMCID: PMC3119155

PMID: 21389331

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Abstract

Experimental techniques allowing longitudinal studies of vascular disease progression or treatment effects are not readily available for most animal models. Thus, most existing studies are destined to either study individual time points or use large cohorts of animals. Here we describe a noninvasive technique for studying vascular disease that is based on in vivo imaging of the long posterior ciliary artery (LPCA) in the iris of albino rats. Using a slit-lamp biomicroscope, images of the LPCA were taken weekly in conscious normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY, n = 10) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, n = 10) for 10 wk. Using imaging software, we found that lumen diameter was significantly smaller and the wall-to-lumen (W/L) ratio larger in SHR than in WKY. Wall thickness was not different. Blood pressure correlated with the W/L ratio. Histology of the abdominal aorta also revealed a smaller lumen diameter and greater W/L ratio in SHR compared with WKY. Corneal application of the muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine elicited a dose-dependent vasodilation of the LPCA that could be antagonized by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, suggesting that the pilocarpine response is mainly mediated by endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Consistent with endothelial dysfunction in SHR, pilocarpine-induced vasodilation was greater in WKY rats than in SHR. These findings indicate that in vivo imaging of the LPCA allows assessment of several structural and functional vascular parameters in conscious rats and that the LPCA responds to disease insults and pharmacologic treatments in a fashion that will make it a useful model for further studies.

pilocarpine

endothelial function

wall-to-lumen ratio

wall thickness

l-NAME

lumen diameter

Innovative Methodology

slit-lamp biomicroscope

papaverine

Details

Title: Subtitle: Noninvasive assessment of vascular structure and function in conscious rats based on in vivo imaging of the albino iris
Creators: Harald M Stauss - Departments of
Kevin R Rarick - Departments of
Katie M Leick - Departments of
Jason W Burkle - Departments of
Diane L Rotella - Departments of
Michael G Anderson - Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, Vol.300(6), pp.R1333-R1343
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00561.2010
PMID: 21389331
PMCID: PMC3119155
NLM abbreviation: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol
ISSN: 0363-6119
eISSN: 1522-1490
Publisher: American Physiological Society; Bethesda, MD
Language: English
Date published: 06/2011
Academic Unit: Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984025403002771

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