Effects of chronic cyclosporine. A treatment on the skin microcirculation of conscious rats.
We investigated capillary diameter and red blood cell velocity ("flying spot technique") in the skin of conscious rats treated for eight weeks with oral doses of Cyclosporine A (CyA, 30 mg/day) or placebo. For the intravital microscopic analysis (transmitted light), the depilated auricle was used as a model. The capillary diameter did not differ between CyA and controls (6.95 +/- 0.08 microns vs 6.95 +/- 0.09 microns, p greater than 0.05). However, the red blood cell velocity was significantly different (304 +/- 5 microns/s in CyA and 140 +/- 4 microns/s in controls, p less than 0.001). Additional experiments of our group phi, with isolated arteries revealed an impaired response to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators in the presence of an enhanced response to alpha adrenergic vasoconstriction in the CyA-treated rats. Thus, the increase of capillary red blood cell velocity in chronically CyA-treated rats may reflect an enhanced vascular tone of the precapillary circulation.
Hertel
R F
RF
Fraunhofer-Institute for Toxicology and Aerosol Research, Hannover, FRG.
Bossaller
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000098:blood supply; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D003524:Cyclosporins