Reduction of pressure in postcapillary venules induced by EPI-fluorescent illumination of FITC-dextrans.

Blue light (488nm) irradiation of intravenously injected fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-Dextrans induces platelet aggregation in microvessels. The build-up of the aggregates in the microvessel lumen results in a change in microcirculatory hemodynamics. We found that lumenal pressure falls to approximately 75% of the control pressure within the first 10 seconds following the onset of irradiation. The damage, however, is not permanent and pressure returns to control level after the illumination of the microcirculatory field is discontinued. This effect can lead to erroneous conclusions in studies of microcirculatory hemodynamics and macromolecular permselectivity in preparations in which intravital fluorescence microscopy is employed. Short time irradiation (1 min. or less) of the microcirculatory field is recommended as a means of minimizing the deleterious effects of blue light irradiation.