Microcirculatory parameters measured in subcutaneous tissue of the mouse using a novel dorsal skinfold chamber.

The dorsal skinfold chamber (DSC) is a transparent devise useful for the long-term study of subcutaneous microcirculation. Commonly used chambers are made of metal, thus heavy and potentially stress including. Therefore, we developed a nonmetallic dorsal skinfold chamber and demonstrated that it performs as well as metal chambers. The essential structural parts of the nonmetallic chamber are made of polyacetal resin (Duracon), and its design was based on an existing titanium chamber. Both Duracon and titanium chambers were implanted onto an 8-week-old male BALB/c mice and microcirculatory parameters were compared. In subcutaneous venules, there were no significant differences between the chambers in terms of maximum blood velocity, blood flow rate, or the number of rolling or adhering leukocytes in vessels. In arterioles, main frequency of vasomotion showed no significant difference between the two types of chambers. This novel nonmetallic chamber frame was determined to be as practical as the metal frame. The nonmetallic chamber is about 40% lighter in weight than the metallic one, subjecting mice to less stress. Additionally, the chamber has greater applications in experimental use where metallic frames are unsuitable, such as those employing nonionizing radiation.