Reflectance confocal-laser-scanning microscopy in vivo assessments of cigarette-induced dynamic alterations of cutaneous microcirculation on histomorphological level.
OBJECTIVE
Until now, high resolution reflectance confocal-laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used for observation of cutaneous morphology in vivo and in real time. We hypothesized that CLSM also allows observation of dynamic processes of cutaneous microcirculation.


METHODS
Reflectance CLSM (Vivascope1500; Lucid, Rochester, NY) was performed in 24 young male habitual smokers (23 years, range: 19-26, body mass index 23.9 +/- 4.04) with relatively limited cigarette exposure (mean: 3.1 +/- 2.4 pack-years). Eight matched nonsmokers served as controls. The quantitative blood cell flow and the diameter of capillary loops were determined prior (baseline), during, as well as 5 and 10 min after smoking.


RESULTS
Baseline value for blood cell flow was 55.50 +/- 2.33 cells/min, and decreased over 45% during smoking (30.43 +/- 3.76/min; P = 0.02). They were still 22% lower (43.33 +/- 2.45/min; P = 0.01) 5 min after smoking and exceeded baseline values 10 min after smoking by 13% (63.00 +/- 3.10/min; P > 0.05). The baseline values for capillary loop diameter (9.03 +/- 0.22 microm) decreased by 21% (7.18 +/- 0.28 microm; P = 0.03) during smoking, remained about 9% (8.23 +/- 0.18 microm; P = 0.01) lower 5 min after smoking and exceeded baseline values insignificantly by 4% (9.38 +/- 0.28 microm; P > 0.05) 10 min after smoking. There were no significant differences to the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Reflectance CLSM enables qualitative and quantitative observation of dynamic processes of cutaneous microcirculation on histomorphological level.
Altintas
Mehmet Ali
MA
Department of Plastic, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical School Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Dr.med.Altintas@gmail.com
Altintas
Ahmet Ali
AA
Guggenheim
Merlin
M
Gohritz
Andreas
A
Meyer-Marcotty
Max
M
Vogt
Peter M
PM
D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult