title: Thermostatic tissue platform for intravital microscopy: 'the hanging drop' model.
abstract: Intravital microscopy imposes the particular problem of the combined control of the body temperature of the animal and the local temperature of the observed organ or tissues. We constructed and tested, in the rat ileum microcirculation preparation, a new organ-support platform. The platform consisted of an organ bath filled with physiological solution, and contained a suction tube, a superfusion tube, an intestine-support hand that was attached to a micromanipulator and a thermometer probe. To cover the intestine we used a cover glass plate with a plastic ring glued on its upper surface. After a routine procedure (anaesthesia, monitoring and surgery), the intestine segment (2-3 cm long) was gently exteriorized and placed on the 'hand' of the organ support. A small part of the intestine formed a small 'island' in the bath that was filled with physiological salt solution. The cover glass was secured in place. The physiological salt solution from the superfusion tube, which was pointed to the lower surface of the cover glass, formed a 'hanging drop'. The objective of the microscope was then immersed into distilled water that was formed by the cover glass plastic ring. The 'hanging drop' technique prevented any tissue quenching, ensured undisturbed microcirculation, provided for stable temperature and humidity, and permitted a clear visual field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Friedrich Loeffler Strasse 23b, 17487 Greifswald, Germany. pavlovic@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.forename: Kai-Stephan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Vo Hoai
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Bac
authors.forename: Joern
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wendt
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Taras
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usichenko
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruendling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006813:Humidity; D007082:Ileum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008833:Microcirculation; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D010827:Physiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051381:Rats; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins