Intravital morphometric characteristics of the pial network of associative and projection regions during contralateral cooling of the cat cortex

Morphometric parameters of pial vessel bed in somatosensory (region 1) and parietal (middle third of f. supra-sylvii) zones of the right brain hemisphere were determined using automatic image analysis in acute experiments on normal cats and during 1-hour cooling blockade of the same regions in the left hemisphere. In normal conditions values of pial vessel bed area were higher in the somatosensory zone, with the vessels 16-50 micron in diameter prevailing. In the parietal zone vessels with a diameter of 5-15 micron prevailed. Primary vessel constriction was observed during cooling. Later the tendency to prolonged increase of specific bed length in the parietal zone, particularly during cooling of the symmetrical region, was noted. The data obtained reveal structural and functional peculiarities of pial system in associative and projection cortical zones and their significance in compensatory-restoration process after injury.     

Microvessel diameter estimation: error bias correction of serial measurements

The assessment of vessel patency can be substantially improved by serial microvessel diameter measurements taken successively along an extensive length of the vessel. It is possible to avoid making the a priori assumptions about the existence or location of local constriction sites implicit in single diameter measurements. The problem then becomes one of making sense of tens or hundreds of measurements for each vessel. Equivalent diameter is defined here as as the diameter of a uniform circular cylinder of the same length as the original vessel, and having the same total resistance. Direct computation of the equivalent diameter, without taking measurement errors into account, leads to an underestimation of the true equivalent diameter even if the individual diameter measurements were not biased. We have developed a method for effectively eliminating this bias. It has been applied to serial microvessel diameter measurements of the guinea pig cochlea, automatically measured using an image analysis system. In this report, the results were developed for diameter estimates with an approximate gaussian distribution; however the method is readily extended to other error distributions. Convergence of the bias compensation was rapid. Use of the new method is advisable with as few as three diameter estimates per vessel.     

Distribution of alpha-actinin in single isolated smooth muscle cells

In order to probe the organization of the contractile machinery in smooth muscle, we have studied the distribution of alpha-actinin, a protein present in high concentration in dense bodies, structures apparently analogous to the Z-disks of striated muscle. Localization of alpha-actinin in single isolated smooth muscle cells of the stomach muscularis of Bufo marinus was determined by analysis of the pattern of anti-alpha-actinin staining in single fluorescence photomicrographs, stereo pair micrographs, and computerized three-dimensional reconstructions from multiple image planes. The distribution of anti- alpha-actinin and antitubulin staining was compared in contracted and relaxed cells. The studies revealed that alpha-actinin is present in high concentrations in fusiform elements (mean axial ratio = 4.82) throughout the cytoplasm and in larger, more irregularly shaped plaques along the cell margins. Many of the fusiform-stained elements are organized into stringlike arrays characterized by a regular repeating pattern (mean center-to-center interspace = 2.2 +/- 0.1 micron). These linear arrays appear to terminate at the anti-alpha-actinin stained larger plaques along the cell margin; several of these strings often run in parallel with their elements in lateral register. While this general pattern of organization is maintained in cells during contraction, the distance between successive stained elements in stringlike arrays is decreased. We suggest that the decrease in the distance between elements in these strings results from shortening of materials that constitute these linear arrays. We do not believe that the shortening within these arrays reflects compression by forces generated elsewhere within the cell, as the reorganization of noncontractile microtubules is qualitatively different from the changes in the pattern of anti-alpha-actinin staining.     

Cell-free plasma layer in cerebral microvessels.

Two diameters of vessel and red cell column in cerebral microvessels (> 29.8 microns in diameter) of cat were measured together with red cell velocity, using a two fluorescent tracer method. A fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled red cell was adopted as a flow tracer to measure the cell velocity with a dual window technique. Based on the fluorescence image, the red cell column diameter was measured. Plasma was stained with rhodamine-B isothiocyanate (RITC)-labeled dextran to measure the vessel diameter. The thickness of the cell-free plasma layer could be determined from the difference of the two diameters. The obtained thickness of the cell-free layer was not described by a simple function of vessel diameter or red cell velocity; it was dependent on the pseudo shear rate defined by the ratio of cell velocity to vessel radius. The layer thickness increased with a decrease in the pseudo shear rate.     

Gliding movements in Myxococcus xanthus.

Prokaryotic gliding motility is described as the movement of a cell on a solid surface in the direction of the cell's long axis, but its mechanics are unknown. To investigate the basis of gliding, movements of individual Myxococcus xanthus cells were monitored by employing a video microscopy method by which displacements as small as 0.03 micron could be detected and speeds as low as 1 micron/min could be resolved. Single cells were observed to glide with speeds varying between 1 and 20 microns/min. We found that speed variation was due to differences in distance between the moving cell and the nearest cell. Cells separated by less than one cell diameter (0.5 micron) moved with an average speed of 5.0 micron/min, whereas cells separated by more than 0.5 micron glided with an average speed of 3.8 microns/min. The power to glide was found to be carried separately at both ends of a cell.     

THE ORGANIZATION OF CONTRACTILE FILAMENTS IN A MAMMALIAN SMOOTH MUSCLE

Ordered arrays of thin filaments (65 A diameter) along with other apparently random arrangements of thin and thick filaments (100–200 A diameter) are observed in contracted guinea pig taenia coli rapidly fixed in glutaraldehyde. The thin-filament arrays vary from a few to more than 100 filaments in each array. The arrays are scattered among isolated thin and thick filaments. Some arrays are regular such as hexagonal; other arrays tend to be circular. However, few examples of rosettes with regular arrangements of thin filaments surrounding thick filaments are seen. Optical transforms of electron micrographs of thin-filament arrays give a nearest-neighbor spacing of the thin filaments in agreement with the "actin" filament spacing from x-ray diffraction experiments. Many thick filaments are closely associated with thin-filament arrays. Some thick filaments are hollow circles, although triangular shapes are also found. Thin-filament arrays and thick filaments extend into the cell for distances of at least a micron. Partially relaxed taenia coli shows thin-filament arrays but few thick filaments. The suggestion that thick filaments aggregate prior to contraction and disaggregate during relaxation is promoted by these observations. The results suggest that a sliding filament mechanism operates in smooth muscle as well as in striated muscle.     

Dependence of macromolecular composition and morphology of Streptomyces hygroscopicus on specific growth rate.

The dependence of macromolecular composition and morphology of Streptomyces hygroscopicus on specific growth rate micron was investigated. The percentage of DNA on dry weight (%DNA) is constant, % protein is also nearly independent of micron whereas %RNA rises considerably with increasing micron, regarding mycelia grown in glucose-limited and ammonium-limited continuous cultures as well as in discontinuous cultures with various carbon sources. It is probable that the overall synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein is regulated in the mycelium-forming bacterium S. hygroscopicus by the same mechanisms found in unicellular bacteria like Escherichia coli because of the qualitatively similar dependence of %DNA, %RNA and %protein on micron. But differences exist in quantitative regard whereby %DNA, %RNA and %protein of S. hygroscopicus are much smaller at low micron and, with increasing micron, approach those of unicellular bacteria. The hypothesis about the increase of the hyphal regions showing high synthesis activity in S. hygroscopicus mycelia grown in glucose-limited continuous cultures with increasing micron -- derived from comparison of macromolecular composition of S. hygroscopicus and unicellular bacteria -- was confirmed autoradiographically with respect to protein synthesis. The increase of the part of mycelial regions showing high cytoplasmic activity results in an increase of mean hyphal diameter, of mean relative apical growth rate alpha and/or mean relative branching rate beta. Beta depends sigmoidally and alpha inverses sigmoidally on micron. Therefore, the morphology of the mycelium determined by alpha and beta also depends on micron. The hyphal growth unit L/N, the distance from apex to first branch Lp and the mean distance between neighbouring branches Ln decline with increasing micron and reach a minimum at micron = 0.32 (1/h). A further rise of micron is accompanied with an increase of L/N, Lp and Ln. This means that mycelia growing slowly or very quickly have a loose form whereas quickly growing mycelia are characterized by a more compact form. The complicated dependence of alpha, beta, L/N, Lp and Ln on micron indicates that the morphology is regulated by different mechanisms depending on the specific growth rate.     

Regulation of mouse oocyte growth: probable nutritional role for intercellular communication between follicle cells and oocytes in oocyte growth

Intercellular communication, as determined by two different assay procedures, was established in vitro between mouse oocytes free of adhering follicle cells and monolayers of either follicle or 3T3 cells. Both of these cell types are known to be able to form homologous gap junctions, and follicle cells naturally form heterologous gap junctions with oocytes in vivo. Monolayers of L cells that are communication deficient did not establish intercellular communication with oocytes as determined by the two different assays for intercellular communication. The diameter of oocytes cultured for 4 days in medium or on monolayers of L cells decreased markedly, 9.7 and 13.1 micron, respectively. In contrast, oocytes cultured for 4 days on follicle cell monolayers increased on the average about 4.7 micron in diameter. Oocytes cultured for 4 days on monolayers of 3T3 cells decreased slightly in diameter, i.e., 2.1 micron. Results from these experiments support a nutritional role for intercellular communication between follicle cells and oocytes in oocyte growth.     

Tracking of single fluorescent particles in three dimensions: use of cylindrical optics to encode particle position.

We present a novel optical technique for three-dimensional tracking of single fluorescent particles using a modified epifluorescence microscope containing a weak cylindrical lens in the detection optics and a microstepper-controlled fine focus. Images of small, fluorescent particles were circular in focus but ellipsoidal above and below focus; the major axis of the ellipsoid shifted by 90 degrees in going through focus. Particle z position was determined from the image shape and orientation by applying a peak detection algorithm to image projections along the x and y axes; x, y position was determined from the centroid of the particle image. Typical spatial resolution was 12 nm along the optical axis and 5 nm in the image plane with a maximum sampling rate of 3-4 Hz. The method was applied to track fluorescent particles in artificial solutions and living cells. In a solution of viscosity 30 cP, the mean squared distance (MSD) traveled by a 264 nm diameter rhodamine-labeled bead was linear with time to 20 s. The measured diffusion coefficient, 0.0558 +/- 0.001 micron2/s (SE, n = 4), agreed with the theoretical value of 0.0556 micron2/s. Statistical variability of MSD curves for a freely diffusing bead was in quantitative agreement with Monte Carlo simulations of three-dimensional random walks. In a porous glass matrix, the MSD data was curvilinear and showed reduced bead diffusion. In cytoplasm of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, bead diffusion was restricted. The water permeability in individual Chinese Hamster Ovary cells was measured from the z movement of a fluorescent bead fixed at the cell surface in response osmotic gradients; water permeability was increased by > threefold in cells expressing CHIP28 water channels. The simplicity and precision of this tracking method may be useful to quantify the complex trajectories of fluorescent particles in living cells.     

A continuous noncontact method for measuring in situ vascular diameter with a video camera

A new, continuous, on-line, video diameter-measuring technique, utilizing a video camera mounted on the sidearm of a stereo microscope, is described. Vessel diameter is derived from changes in the video output signal of the camera or a video recorder when the vessel of interest is displayed horizontally on a monitor and well contrasted with its background. A comparator threshold is set on the filtered video output signal and generates an output pulse that is used to gate horizontal video sync pulses to a digital counter-timer. The number of pulses counted for each video field (no. of horizontal video lines) is proportional to the vessel diameter. The video-derived diameter is calibrated using known standards and correlates well with sonomicrometer-derived diameters of the carotid artery and jugular vein during increasing pressure ramps (r greater than 0.999). The diameter update rate is 60 Hz, and the resolution of the system is one horizontal video line, independent of the vessel size. With suitable magnification and contrast both arteries and veins as small as 200 micron have been measured using this system.     

The effects of vessel approaches on the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) in the Bay of Plenty,New Zealand

Animals that establish new sites near the edge of the species' range may be vulnerable to disturbance as they are low in numbers and are not tied to the sites. Pinniped distributions world‐wide are changing as many species are recolonizing areas of their former ranges and establishing new colonies. Little research is available on the impact that vessel presence may pose on pinnipeds at such sites. This study documents responses of New Zealand fur seals to vessels in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, at a recently established breeding colony. Fur seal behavior at the breeding location was recorded in the presence of vessels. GLMM and GAM analyses revealed that fur seal responses varied with month, time of day, duration of vessel exposure, and the distance to the vessel. Age and sex of the seals, and the number of seals present also influenced fur seal response. Fur seals at this site became disturbed when vessels approached to the 10–20 m distance category, and a precautionary minimum approach distance of 50 m has been suggested. This research provides direction for monitoring and minimizing impacts of vessels on fur seals, especially where new sites are being colonized.     

边缘效应的空间尺度与测度

综述了边缘效应的空间尺度类型以及在不同尺度上的测度方法.基于大量的研究整合,认为边缘效应空间尺度的划分,可以根据空间尺度的不同以及边缘效应形成和维持因素,分为大中小3个尺度类型,即大尺度的生物群区交错带、中尺度的景观类型之间的生态交错带和小尺度的斑块(生态系统)之间的群落交错区.大尺度主要是以植被气候带为标志的生物群区间的边缘效应,这种地带性的交错区主要受大气环境条件的影响.中尺度类型主要包括城乡交错带、林草交错带、农牧交错带等类型,是不同生态系统要素的空间交接地带,在物质能量等相互流动的作用下变得更为复杂.小尺度水平上是指斑块之间的交错所形成的边缘效应,受小地形等微环境条件及生物非生物等因子的制约,研究主要集中在群落边缘、林窗边缘和林线交错带等方面.对边缘效应测度的定量化研究有助于更加深入理解边缘效应.在大尺度水平上,边缘效应测度的研究主要是应用数量生态学等方法,研究不同气候带之间界线的划分及其物种分布的梯度规律性.中尺度水平上应用景观生态学的3S技术等方法,侧重于研究交错带的动态变化趋势及位置宽度的判定.小尺度水平上通过对距离边缘的长度,各群落中种群的数量、结构、多样性等定量指标的测定来构建测度公式,从而对边缘效应的强度进行量化,并反映边缘对群落的正负效应.总体上看,主要集中于中小尺度上,未来应该强化大尺度边缘效应测度的研究.     

Spatial scale types and measurement of edge effects in ecology

Classification of spatial scales and measurement of edge effects in ecology were reviewed. The spatial scales can be classified into large scale (biome ecotone), meso-scale (ecological ecotone) and small scale (community ecotone) through the formation and maintenance of edge effects in ecology based on the synthetic analysis of published literatures. The biome ecotone is influenced by climate, regional dominant vegetation and terrain environment. The ecological ecotone is usually distributed in the transitional region with remarkable habitat heterogeneity. It connects adjacent ecosystems and affects the flow of energy and nutrient. Nowadays, study on edge effects in ecology mainly focuses on boundary sensitivity which associates with urban-rural ecotone, forest-grassland ecotone, agro-pastoral ecotone, forest-farmland ecotone, water-land ecotone and forest-swamp ecotone. As to the community ecotone which links with different patches to the interior of the community, previous studies focused on community edge, gap edge and treelines. The borderlines of different biome ecotones and the gradients of species distribution in the biome ecotones have been investigated through the method of quantitative ecology. The dynamic change, location and width of the ecological ecotone have been studied using the Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies and the landscape ecology theory. As important indicators, distance from edge, population, structure and diversity determined for establishing models can be applied to measure the intensity of edge effects and decide the positive or negative impact on communities. Although study on the edge effects in ecology was mostly reported at the meso-scale and small scale, study at large scale should be paid more attention as it is the potential value in ecology and global change fields.     

Adrenergic innervation of the arteries of different diameters in the human and animal pia mater

The adrenergic nervous plexuses of the pial arteries from 450- to 50 micron in diameter have been studied in dogs, cats and humans from 4 age groups (22-44 years, 55-64 years, 65-74 years and 75-86 years old). It has been found that the decrease in the vessel diameter was accompanied by a marked decline in the absolute number of nervous fibers in the nervous plexuses, however the concentration of the nerve fibers has not revealed any significant differences between human arteries from 450 to 100 micron in diameter and animal arteries from 300 to 80 micron in diameter. The number of varicosities-thickness along the nerve fiber--was the greatest in 200-100 micron human arteries and in 80-60 micron animal arteries. With ageing, the number of varicosities in the adrenergic nervous plexus of human pial vessels decreased faster than in the nerve fibers.     

Fringe-scan flow cytometry

We describe the development of a scanning flow cytometer capable of measuring the distribution of fluorescent dye along objects with a spatial resolution of 0.7 micron. The heart of this instrument, called a fringe-scan flow cytometer, is an interference field (i.e., a series of intense planes of illumination) produced by the intersection of two laser beams. Fluorescence profiles (i.e., records showing the intensity of fluorescence measured at 20 ns intervals) are recorded during the passage of objects through the fringe field. The shape of the fringe field is determined by recording light scatter profiles as 0.25 micron diameter microspheres traverse the field. The distribution of the fluorescent dye along each object passing through the fringe field is estimated from the recorded fluorescence profile using Fourier deconvolution. We show that the distribution of fluorescent dye along microsphere doublets and along propidium iodide stained human chromosomes can be determined accurately using fringe-scan flow cytometry. The accuracy of fringe-scan shape analysis was determined by comparing fluorescence profiles estimated from fringe-scan profiles for microspheres and chromosomes with fluorescence profiles for the same objects measured using slit-scan flow cytometry.     

Extracellular matrix vesicle distribution in primary mineralization two weeks after injury to rat tibial bone (ultrastructural tissue morphometry)

Primary mineralization on the 14th day of bone healing served as a model to study the distribution of extracellular matrix vesicles by means of transmission electron microscopy combined with computerized morphometry. Vesicles were traced on electron micrographs and classified according to diameter, distance from the calcified front, and type. The different types were determined as follows: electron-lucent vesicles ("empty"), vesicles with amorphous contents ("amorphic"), vesicles containing crystalline depositions ("crystal"), and vesicles with crystals and ruptured membranes ("rupture"). The majority of the vesicles measured between 0.02 and 0.07 micron and were located at a distance of less than 3 micron from the calcified front. They were distributed according to "empty", "amorphic", "crystal" and "rupture" type in concentrations of 10%, 31%, 51% and 8%, respectively. The diameters of the "rupture" vesicles were significantly larger than those of the "empty" and "amorphic" types. The sequence of their location, starting at the calcified front, ran as follows: "rupture", "crystal", "amorphic" and "empty", with the "rupture" type proximate to the front. According to the working hypothesis on calcification via extracellular matrix vesicles, it is thought that the "empty" vesicles are secreted by the cell and that subsequently amorphous Ca and Pi accumulate intravesicularly to form a hydroxyapatite crystal which, in turn, brings about rupture of the vesicle's membrane. The results of the present study support this theory and, additionally, show that the maturation process is accompanied by an increase of the vesicular diameter and by its approximation to the calcifying front.     

Structure of the novel membrane-coating material in proton-secreting epithelial cells and identification as an H+ATPase

Specialized proton-secreting cells known collectively as mitochondria-rich cells are found in a variety of transporting epithelia, including the kidney collecting duct (intercalated cells) and toad and turtle urinary bladders. These cells contain a population of characteristic tubulovesicles that are believed to be involved in the shuttling of proton pumps (H+ATPase) to and from the plasma membrane. These transporting vesicles have a dense, studlike material coating the cytoplasmic face of their limiting membranes and similar studs are also found beneath parts of the plasma membrane. We have recently shown that this membrane coat does not contain clathrin. The present study was performed to determine the structure of this coat in rapidly frozen and freeze-dried tissue, and to determine whether the coat contains a major membrane protein transported by these vesicles, a proton pumping H+ATPase. The structure of the coat was examined in proton-secreting, mitochondria-rich cells from toad urinary bladder epithelium by rapidly freezing portions of apical membrane and associated cytoplasm that were sheared away from the remainder of the cell using polylysine-coated coverslips. Regions of the underside of these apical membranes as large as 0.2 micron2 were decorated by studlike projections that were arranged into regular hexagonal arrays. Individual studs had a diameter of 9.5 nm and appeared to be composed of multiple subunits arranged around a central depression, possibly representing a channel. The studs had a density of approximately 16,800 per micron2 of membrane. Similar arrays of studs were also found on vesicles trapped in the residual band of cytoplasm that remained attached to the underside of the plasma membrane, but none were seen in adjacent granular cells. To determine whether these arrays of studs contained H+ATPase molecules, we examined a preparation of affinity-purified bovine medullary H+ATPase, using the same technique, after incorporation of the protein eluted from a monoclonal antibody affinity column into phospholipid liposomes. The affinity-purified protein was shown to be capable of ATP-dependent acidification. In such preparations, large paracrystalline arrays of studs identical in appearance to those seen in situ were found. The dimensions of the studs as well as the number per square micrometer of membrane were identical to those of toad bladder mitochondria-rich cells: 9.5 nm in diameter, 16,770 per micron2 of membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

广西华缨鱼属鱼类一新种记述

在整理华缨鱼属标本时发现,1993年9月在广西壮族自治区天峨县红水河水系地下河采集到的一批标本为一个未经发表的新种,新种订名为大眼华缨鱼(Sinocrossocheilus megalophthalmus)。其下咽齿2行,可与下咽齿3行的7种华缨鱼相区别,而与属内同样具2行下咽齿的贵州华缨鱼(S.guizhouensis)、小口华缨鱼(S.microstomatus)和宽唇华缨鱼(S.labiatus)亲缘关系较近。但:(1)新种胸鳍中点上方无黑斑,背鳍分枝鳍条7,腹鳍分枝鳍条7,背鳍前鳞15—16,眼大,头长为眼径2·5—3·1倍,眼径为头宽44·7%—57·8%,吻须后伸至前后鼻孔之间或眼前缘,口角须后伸至眼前缘至眼中之间或眼中至眼后缘之间,体长为尾柄高8·9—10·7倍,头长为吻长2·5—3·7倍,可与贵州华缨鱼(胸鳍中点上方有一明显黑斑,背鳍分枝鳍条8,腹鳍分枝鳍条8,背鳍前鳞12—14,头长为眼径4·0—5·0倍,眼径为头宽16·6%—20·7%,吻须后伸不达后鼻孔后缘,口角须后伸至眼前缘,体长为尾柄高7·2—8·2倍,头长为吻长1·9—2·2倍)相区别;(2)新种背鳍前鳞15—16,侧线鳞39—40,侧线上鳞4·5—5·5,背鳍分枝鳍条7,鳃耙13,腹鳍末端伸达肛门,眼径为头宽44·7%—57·8%,可与宽唇华缨鱼(背鳍前鳞22,侧线鳞42—45,侧线上鳞6·5,背鳍分枝鳍条8,鳃耙10,腹鳍末端不达肛门,眼径为头宽23·3%—30·0%)相区别;(3)新种与同水系的小口华缨鱼在鳍条数、侧线鳞、体色、斑纹等方面最为相似,但新种围尾柄鳞14/16,眼大,头长为眼径2·5—3·1倍,腹鳍末端伸达肛门,口角须后伸至眼前缘至眼中之间或眼中至眼后缘之间,吻皮边缘深裂成小穗,背鳍起点距吻端较距尾鳍基为近,背鳍长大于头长,体长为尾柄长4·8—5·9倍,头长为吻长2·5—3·7倍,尾柄长为尾柄高1·6—2·1倍,可与之(围尾柄鳞12,眼小,头为眼径4·4—4·6倍,腹鳍末端不达肛门,口角须伸达眼下方,吻皮边缘不开裂或开裂不明显,背鳍起点距吻端等于距尾鳍基,背鳍条约等于头长,体长为尾柄长6·1—6·4倍,头长为吻长2·1—2·4倍,尾柄长为尾柄高1·4—1·5倍)相区别。     

Elasticity of arterioles and venules in postmortem human lungs

The elasticity and branching order of noncapillary microscopic blood vessels less than 100 microns diam were studied in human lungs obtained 7-30 h postmortem, using a silicone elastomer method that selectively filled pulmonary arterioles or venules. The lungs were inflated to 10 cmH2O pressure and a gradient of transmural vascular pressure of 0-17 cm H2O, from lobe base to apex, was established in the silicone-filled vascular system. Histological materials were obtained after airway fixation by formaldehyde solution and analyzed for vessel diameter in the branching order of 1, 2, and 3, with the smallest noncapillary vessel designated as order 1, in accord with the Strahler system. The change in vessel diameter within a branching order at different levels of transmural pressure is a derived measure of vascular elasticity expressed as compliance coefficient alpha, alpha Values are 0.128, 0.164, and 0.210 micron/cmH2O or 0.682, 0.472, and 0.354%/cmH2O, respectively, of orders 1-3 for arterioles and 0.187, 0.215, and 0.250 micron/cmH2O or 0.992, 0.612, and 0.424%/cmH2O, respectively, of orders 1-3 for venules. The percent is normalized with D0, which is the value of diameter (D) when the transmural pressure is zero. These data are compared with those for the cat where alpha = 0.274 for similar juxta-alveolar vessels.     

Effect of variations in pressure and flow on the geometry of isolated canine carotid arteries

A study is described in which the effects of hemodynamics on arterial geometry are investigated in vitro. A novel perfusion apparatus is employed to deliver pulsatile flow through excised canine carotid arteries under carefully controlled conditions. Data of perfused vessel diameter and arterial wall thickness are derived from the radial displacement of the pulsating vessel as measured using a scanning laser micrometer whose accuracy is determined to be 0.0125 mm (0.0005 in). The results of 30 perfusion experiments suggest that the hemodynamic variables of transmural pressure, pulse pressure and flow rate influence vessel size and radial strain. The physiologic implications of these findings are discussed.