Effects of cryotherapy after contusion using real-time intravital microscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine effects of local tissue cooling on contusion-induced microvascular hemodynamics and leukocytes behavior using real-time intravital microscopy.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats (N = 21, 130-150 g) were randomly assigned to intensive cooling group (3 degrees C, N = 7), a moderate cooling group (27 degrees C, N = 7), or control group (37 degrees C, N = 7). Contusion was induced by dropping a plastic ball on exposed cremaster muscle. After 5 min, the cremaster muscle was superfused with a saline solution for 10 min at controlled temperature of either 3 degrees C (cooling), 27 degrees C (moderate cooling), or 37 degrees C (control). Microvascular hemodynamics (vessel internal diameter, blood flow rate and erythrocyte velocity) and leukocyte behavior (rolling and adhesion) were measured from recorded videotapes in the same venules before and after contusion, and after cooling.


RESULTS
Cooling-induced vasoconstriction was marked at 3 degrees C and moderate at 27 degrees C compared with that at 37 degrees C. Blood flow rate and erythrocyte velocity were markedly lower at 3 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C. At 27 degrees C, erythrocyte velocity was higher than that at 37 degrees C, but blood flow rate was maintained at a level similar to that at 37 degrees C. The number of rolling and adhering leukocytes at 3 degrees C and 27 degrees C were significantly less than at 37 degrees C.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that local tissue cooling, similar to cryotherapy, improves edema and inflammatory reaction, and may be useful for reducing inflammatory response without inhibiting blood flow after contusion.
Lee
Hoseong
H
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Doctoral Program of Sports Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Natsui
Hiroaki
H
Akimoto
Takayuki
T
Yanagi
Kennichi
K
Ohshima
Norio
N
Kono
Ichiro
I
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003288:Contusions / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D007564:Japan; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar