Visualization of retinal and choroidal blood flow with fluorescein leukocyte angiography in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To visualize the retinal and choroidal leukocytes in rabbits with a new technique, fluorescein leukocyte angiography using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope.


METHODS
Blood was withdrawn from an ear vein of a rabbit (New Zealand White), mixed with fluorescein dye in a test tube and centrifuged. The yellow-brown coat layer containing fluorescein-stained leukocytes was collected and injected into the ear vein of the same rabbit while performing fluorescein angiography with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. The angiographic image displaying circulating fluorescent leukocytes in retinal and choroidal vessels was recorded on a videotape.


RESULTS
Fluorescent leukocytes were clearly visible in the retinal arteries, capillaries, veins and choroidal vessels for more than 1 h. Plugging of leukocytes was seen throughout this period of time in choroidal vessels, while plugging was rare in retinal vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluorescein leukocyte angiography is a new technique which can be used for visualization of the leukocytes in retinal and choroidal vessels non-invasively and in vivo.
Yang
Y
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, South Korea.
Kim
S
S
Kim
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D019793:Fluorescein; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007834:Lasers; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording
D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019793:Fluorescein