Abstract
Although several methods have been developed to investigate thrombus or hemostatic plug formation in microvessels in vivo , our knowledge on platelet behavior during such a process is still limited. We, therefore, developed new instrumentation which enables us to induce interactions of individual platelets and to detect their behavior with endothelium in and around the growing thrombus. To evoke a platelet reaction, focal hemorrhage was induced with a nitrogen-dye laser focused through the microscope optics using mesenteric microcirculation of the rat. Platelet deposition at the site of injury was then observed during thrombus formation in real-time. The system was able to provide images with high spatial resolution at video-frame rate that could be used to reconstruct three-dimensional model of a thrombus. (Abstract movie) [MVRC 2 (1): 8-12,2008]
