Abstract
To elucidate the function of the microcirculation
system, which is essential for material transport in
tissues and organs, it is very important to know
blood flow velocity and its distribution in the microvessels.
Although many methods of measuring
microcirculatory blood flow velocity have been
developed, all of them have both advantages and
disadvantages, and cannot satisfy our requirements
completely. In this situation, we tried to measure
microcirculatory blood flow velocity vector by processing
images obtained in situ under microscopic
observation. The unit used for our measurement
contained a supersensitive high-speed video system
and a real-time velocity vector measurement system
based on two-dimensional correlation. In this study,
we determined red blood cell (RBC) velocity vector
in the rat mesenteric microcirculation using the
unit, and obtained data on blood flow velocity, its
change over time and its velocity distribution, which
were very interesting from the viewpoint of microcirculatory
rheology.
The results indicate that using this system might
be useful in analyzing RBC velocity with a high time
resolution. The prominent advantage of this system
is the possibility of measuring the two-dimensional
velocity distribution of blood flow at many windows,
and the velocity profile at any cross-section
can be easily investigated.
This system offers real-time and simultaneous
multi-window measurement of red blood cell velocity,
giving information on the following: velocity
distribution of branched vessels; pulse waves; and
analysis of velocity profiles of curved vessels. Therefore,
this system promises to greatly contribute to
further development of hemorheology.
