Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Roland N Pittman

Publications and source records attributed to Roland N Pittman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Resonance Raman spectroscopy: a new technology for tissue oxygenation monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate resonance Raman spectroscopy for the detection of changes in sublingual mucosal hemoglobin oxygen saturation (Smo2) in response to hemorrhage and resuscitation, and to compare Smo2 with other indicators of tissue oxygenation including central venous oxygen saturation (Scvo2), lactate, base excess, and shed blood volume. DESIGN: Prospective single group pilot study. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS: Five Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: Animals were anesthetized and instrumented for measurement of arterial and central venous blood gases. Raman spectroscopy was performed using a krypton ion laser providing excitation at 406.7 nm (5 mW). A 1-mm2 region of the sublingual tongue surface was chosen for investigation. Animals were subjected to stepwise hemorrhage until approximately 50% of the blood volume was removed. At each hemorrhage and resuscitation interval, Raman spectroscopy was performed and corresponding arterial and central venous blood gas and lactate measurements were made. Smo2 was calculated as the ratio of the oxygenated heme spectral peak height to the sum of the oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin spectral peak heights. Raman spectroscopy-derived Smo2 measurements were compared with Scvo2 as well as with other indicators of oxygenation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean difference between Smo2 and Scvo2 for all paired measurements was 5.8+/-11.7 absolute saturation points. Smo2 was significantly (p<.0001) correlated with Scvo2 (r=.80), lactate (r=-.78), base excess (r=.80), and shed blood volume (r=-.75). Smo2 and Scvo2 showed similar levels of precision for predicting elevated lactate and base deficit. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to noninvasively track microvascular hemoglobin oxygenation in tissue and favorably correlate with other important indicators of tissue oxygenation such as Scvo2, lactate, base deficit, and shed blood volume. The technique shows promise as a method to noninvasively monitor tissue oxygenation.

Animals↗

Decreased supply-dependent oxygen consumption in the skeletal muscle of the spontaneously hypertensive rat during acute hypoxia.

The purpose of this study was to correlate microvascular oxygen delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) in the skeletal muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) with hemodynamics during acute hypoxia. We expected greater abnormalities in central and microvascular hemodynamics during hypoxic induced shock in the SHR compared with the WKY due to microvascular rarefaction. The inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) was lowered from 0.21 to 0.15, 0.1, 0.08, and 0.05 in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated rats. Lactate and base deficit values were similar for both groups at 0.21 and 0.15 FiO2, but higher in SHR at lower FiO2. Baseline aortic blood flow (SHR, 56.2+/-4.0 mL min; WKY, 61.8+/-5.3 mL min) and systemic DO2 (SHR, 9.02+/-0.82 mL min; WKY, 9.32+/-0.54 mL min) increased similarly when FiO2 was lowered to 0.15. Further reductions in FiO2 caused lower aortic flow and systemic DO2 in the SHR than WKY at 0.08 and 0.05 FiO2. Spinotrapezius blood flow increased from baseline (SHR, 24.8+/-1.8 nL s; WKY, 22.7+/-2.1 nL s) in both groups when FiO2 was reduced to 0.15; further reductions in FiO2 decreased blood flow in both groups, with lower values in the SHR group at 0.1 and 0.08 FiO2. The SHR group demonstrated higher venous oxygen saturation at low values of FiO2 compared with WKY. This reduced oxygen extraction in SHR resulted in a lower supply-dependent VO2 at low values of spinotrapezius DO2, perhaps attributed to arteriolar thickening and rarefaction seen in chronic hypertension.

Animals↗

Hemoglobin oxygen saturation measurements using resonance Raman intravital microscopy.

A system is described for in vivo noninvasive measurements of hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbO2Sat) at the microscopic level. The spectroscopic basis for the application is resonant Raman enhancement of Hb in the violet/ultraviolet region, allowing simultaneous identification of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin with the same excitation wavelength. The heme vibrational bands are well known, but the technique has never been used to determine microvascular HbO2Sat in vivo. A diode laser light (power: 0.3 mW) was focused onto sample areas 15-30 microm in diameter. Raman spectra were obtained in backscattering geometry by using a microscope coupled to a spectrometer and a cooled detector. Calibration was performed in vitro by using glass capillaries containing blood at several Hb concentrations, equilibrated at various oxygen tensions. HbO2Sat was estimated using the Raman band intensities at 1,360 and 1,375 cm(-1). Glass capillary path length and Hb concentration had no effect on HbO2Sat estimated from Raman spectra. In vivo observations were made in blood flowing in microvessels of the rat mesentery. The Hb Raman peaks observed in oxygenated and deoxygenated blood were consistent with earlier Raman studies that used Hb solutions and isolated cells. The method allowed HbO2Sat determinations in the whole range of arterioles, venules, and capillaries. Tissue transillumination allowed diameter and erythrocyte velocity measurements in the same vessels. Raman microspectroscopy offers distinct advantages over other currently used techniques by providing noninvasive and reliable in vivo determinations of HbO2Sat in thin tissues as well as in solid organs and tissues, which are unsuitable for techniques requiring transillumination.

Animals↗

Erythrocyte-associated transients in PO2 revealed in capillaries of rat mesentery.

Mathematical models have predicted the existence of Po(2) gradients between erythrocytes in capillaries in the usual case where plasma contributes substantial resistance to oxygen diffusion. According to theoretical predictions, these gradients could be detected as rapid Po(2) fluctuations (erythrocyte-associated transients, EATs) along the capillary. However, verification of a model and correct choice of its parameters can be made only on the basis of direct experimental measurements. We used phosphorescence quenching microscopy to measure Po(2) in 52 capillaries of rat mesentery to obtain plasma Po(2) values 100 times/s at a given point along a capillary. A 532-nm laser generated 10-micros pulses of light, concentrated by a x100 objective, onto a spot 0.9 microm in diameter. The presence of erythrocytes in the excitation region was detected on the basis of phosphorescence amplitude (PA), proportional to the amount of plasma encountered by the laser beam, and on the basis of the intensity of transmitted laser light (LT), detected by a photodiode placed under the capillary. The data revealed correlated waveforms in PA, LT, and Po(2) in capillaries. The magnitude of the Po(2) gradients between erythrocytes and plasma was correlated with average capillary Po(2). EATs in Po(2) were more readily detected in capillaries with relatively low oxygenation. The correlation coefficients between PA and Po(2) for the half of the capillaries (n = 26) below the median Po(2) (mean Po(2) = 17 mmHg; R = -0.72) was higher than that for the other half (mean Po(2) = 39 mmHg; R = -0.38). These results support the theoretical predictions of EATs and plasma Po(2) gradients in capillaries.

Animals↗

Rate of decrease of PO2 from an arteriole with arrested flow.

When flow to a region is arrested, the amount of oxygen contained within the stationary blood decreases at a rate dependent on the oxygen utilization of the surrounding tissue. We used phosphorescence quenching microscopy to measure arteriolar PO2 in the mesentery of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Flow was quickly stopped (< 1 s) by occluding the microvessels using an inflatable Saran bag attached to the microscope objective. The rate of decline in PO2 following occlusion yielded a calculated initial flux of oxygen out of the vessel lumen of 8.0 x 10(-7) ml O2 cm(-2) sec(-1). An upper limit on the oxygen consumption of the arteriolar wall was calculated by assuming that all of the oxygen in the lumen was consumed by the wall at the initial rate. This value was 2.5 x 10(-3) ml O2 cm(-3) sec(-1) and is an overestimate since the oxygen consumption of the nearby parenchymal cells was neglected. The calculated maximum oxygen consumption of the wall is more than an order of magnitude smaller than that reported previously for arterioles in the rat mesentery (6.5 x 10(-2) ml O2 cm(-3) sec(-1)). We conclude that oxygen consumption of the arteriolar wall is similar to previous values for other vascular tissues.

Animals↗

A new video image analysis system to study red blood cell dynamics and oxygenation in capillary networks.

OBJECTIVE: The authors present a Measurement and Analysis System for Capillary Oxygen Transport (MASCOT) to study red blood cell (RBC) dynamics and oxygenation in capillary networks. The system enables analysis of capillaries to study geometry and morphology and provides values for capillary parameters such as diameter and segment length. It also serves as an analysis tool for capillary RBC flow characteristics, including RBC velocity, lineal density, and supply rate. Furthermore, the system provides a means of determining the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin contained within RBCs, by analysis of synchronized videotapes containing images at two wavelengths, enabling the quantification of the oxygen content of individual RBCs. METHODS: Video recordings of RBC flow at two wavelengths, 420 nm (isosbestic) and 436 nm (oxygen sensitive), are made using a dual camera video microscopy system. The 420-nm recording is used to generate images based on the variance of light intensity fluctuations that help to identify capillaries in a given field of view that are in sharp focus and exhibit flow of individual RBCs separated by plasma gaps. A region of interest enclosing the desired capillary is defined and a fixed number of successive video frames at the two wavelengths are captured. Next a difference image is created, which delineates the RBC column, whose width is used to estimate the internal diameter of the capillary. The 420-nm images are also used to identify the location and centroid of each RBC within the capillary. A space-time image is generated to compute the average RBC velocity. Lineal density is calculated as the number of RBCs per unit length of a capillary segment. The mean optical density (OD) of each RBC is calculated at both wavelengths, and the average SO(2) for each cell is determined from OD(436)/OD(420). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: MASCOT is a robust and flexible system that requires simple hardware, including a SGI workstation fitted with an audio-visual module, a VCR, and an oscilloscope. Since the new system provides information on an individual cell basis from entire capillary segments, the authors believe that results obtained using MASCOT will be more accurate than those obtained from previous systems. Due to its flexibility and ease of extension to other applications, MASCOT has the potential to be applied widely as an analysis tool for capillary oxygen transport measurements.

Animals↗

Automated method for tracking individual red blood cells within capillaries to compute velocity and oxygen saturation.

OBJECTIVE: The authors present a new method to track individual red blood cells (RBCs) as they move through capillaries. This method uses a recently developed Measurement and Analysis System for Capillary Oxygen Transport (MASCOT) and the concept of space-time images to track RBCs between consecutive frames of video recordings of the microcirculation. METHODS: A space-time image displays in a single static image for a single capillary the location of all RBCs as a function of time. Analysis is performed on video tapes of RBC flow through capillaries to obtain velocity of individual cells as they traverse the capillary of interest. A space-time image is generated to track RBCs from one frame to the next and their velocities are computed. Based on the optical density values of each cell obtained from synchronized videotapes at two wavelengths, the oxygen saturation of a cell can be determined. In this manner, oxygen saturation can be tracked for the same cells as they move through the capillary. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: These measurements, taken together, allow one to determine how much and how fast oxygen is being delivered to the surrounding tissue. This method provides, for the first time, a way to track individual RBCs flowing through capillary networks and study their RBC dynamics and oxygenation.

Algorithms↗

Effect of oxygen consumption by measuring method on PO2 transients associated with the passage of erythrocytes in capillaries of rat mesentery.

Mathematical models have predicted the existence of Po(2) gradients between erythrocytes in capillaries in the usual case where plasma contributes substantial resistance to oxygen diffusion. According to theoretical predictions, these gradients could be detected as rapid Po(2) fluctuations (erythrocyte-associated transients, EATs) along the capillary. However, verification of a model and correct choice of its parameters can be made only on the basis of direct experimental measurements. We used phosphorescence quenching microscopy to measure Po(2) in 52 capillaries of rat mesentery to obtain plasma Po(2) values 100 times/s at a given point along a capillary. A 532-nm laser generated 10-mus pulses of light, concentrated by a x100 objective, onto a spot 0.9 mum in diameter. The presence of erythrocytes in the excitation region was detected on the basis of phosphorescence amplitude (PA), proportional to the amount of plasma encountered by the laser beam, and on the basis of the intensity of transmitted laser light (LT), detected by a photodiode placed under the capillary. The data revealed correlated waveforms in PA, LT, and Po(2) in capillaries. The magnitude of the Po(2) gradients between erythrocytes and plasma was correlated with average capillary Po(2). EATs in Po(2) were more readily detected in capillaries with relatively low oxygenation. The correlation coefficients between PA and Po(2) for the half of the capillaries (n = 26) below the median Po(2) (mean Po(2) = 17 mmHg; R = -0.72) was higher than that for the other half (mean Po(2) = 39 mmHg; R = -0.38). These results support the theoretical predictions of EATs and plasma Po(2) gradients in capillaries.

Animals↗

Systemic responses to hemodilution after transfusion with stored blood and with a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier.

We assessed the systemic effects of exchanges with blood or hemoglobin (Hb) raffimer under conditions of critical oxygen delivery (Do(2)crit). We compared Do(2)crit in animals receiving Hb-based oxygen carrier (HBOC; Hemolink), fresh blood (collected <24 h), or stored blood (10 days) before hemodilution. Rats were randomized to control, blood, or HBOC isovolemic exchange. Oxygen consumption was measured by using expired gas (o(2)a) and blood (o(2)b) samples, whereas whole-body oxygen delivery (Do(2)) was calculated from cardiac output and arterial oxygen content. After exchange, rats were subjected to stepwise isovolemic hemodilution. Blood pressure, gases, acid-base status, glucose, Hb oxygen saturation, heart rate, and total peripheral resistance were also measured. We found that 1) HBOC-treated rats showed an increased mean arterial blood pressure and total peripheral resistance throughout the hemodilution, 2) Do(2)crit calculated with o(2)a or o(2)b gave identical results, 3) Do(2)crit was not different between animals receiving blood and those receiving HBOC, 4) the terminal Hb concentration (1.8 +/- 0.1 g/dL) and Do(2) (5 +/- 1 mL . min(-1) . kg(-1)) were similar for all animals, and 5) most oxygen transport and biochemical variables changed similarly during hemodilution. The data suggest that tolerance to Do(2)crit is not altered by 50% replacement of native Hb by stored blood or Hb raffimer.

Animals↗

Experimental analysis of critical oxygen delivery.

Systemic variables were evaluated with respect to O(2) delivery to test the hypothesis that critical O(2) delivery and critical Hb can be estimated by multiple variables collected simultaneously. Rats were subjected to transfusion with either fresh or stored blood and then subjected to stepwise isovolemic hemodilution. Critical levels were measured by the dual-regression method from plots of systemic variables against O(2) delivery and Hb. Delivery was calculated from cardiac index and arterial O(2) content. We found that 1) after hemodilution, O(2) delivery changed in a nonlinear relationship with Hb; 2) critical delivery calculated using 30 different systemic variables was not statistically different from each other; 3) critical delivery and critical Hb were correlated but were not different between animals receiving fresh or stored blood; and 4) similar critical levels were found using a single variable from several animals and using several variables from the same subject. The best variables to estimate critical delivery were lactate, bicarbonate, base excess, O(2) extraction ratio, expired CO(2), pulse pressure, cardiac index, and systolic pressure. The data suggest that a multivariable analysis of critical delivery may help determine the physiological oxygenation boundary at the whole body level. This may assist in finding therapeutic triggers on an individual basis using systemic markers of the transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.

Animals↗

Continuous peripheral resistance measurement during hemorrhagic hypotension.

We tested the hypotheses that continuous total peripheral resistance (TPR) measurements are superior to intermittent data collection and that variables related to TPR can be used to distinguish between survivors and nonsurvivors (NS), respectively, of prolonged hemorrhagic hypotension (HH). One week after a transit-time ultrasound probe was implanted on their ascending aortas, 21 rats were subjected to 4 h of HH at 40 mmHg. Measurements were made before and up to 4 h after initiation of HH. Additional bleeding or Ringer L-lactate (RL) infusion was used to maintain HH. TPR was continuously measured online using recordings of blood flow and arterial pressure. Approximately 67% of the rats survived > or =3 h; others were considered NS. Data collected at 30-min intervals failed to detect the maximum value of TPR (TPRmax). The times to reach TPRmax were similar for survivors and NS and were strongly correlated with the bleeding end points and with the RL infusion-onset times. However, survivors showed higher TPRmax values than NS (P <0.005) and had a significantly longer period than NS during which TPR was above baseline level (116 +/- 20 vs. 51 +/- 10 min). In conclusion, 1) the transit-time ultrasound technique at high sampling rate allowed continuous and accurate real-time monitoring of TPR, 2) the bleeding end point and RL infusion-onset times may be used as surrogates of the time to TPRmax, 3) TPRmax of survivors and NS could be detected only using a continuous TPR measurement, and 4) differences between survivors and NS could be revealed by the continuous TPR curve.

Animals↗

Prolonged tissue PO2 reduction after contraction in spinotrapezius muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We tested the hypothesis that a deficit in oxygen extraction or an increase in oxygen demand after skeletal muscle contraction leads to delayed recovery of tissue oxygen tension (Po(2)) in the skeletal muscle of hypertensive rats compared with normotensive rats. Blood flow and Po(2) recovery at various sites in the spinotrapezius muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were evaluated after a 3-min period of muscle contraction and were compared with corresponding values in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs). The recovery of tissue Po(2) [75 +/- 7 (SHRs) vs. 99 +/- 12% (WKYs) of resting values] and venular Po(2) [72 +/- 13 (SHRs) vs. 104 +/- 10% (WKYs) of resting values] were significantly depressed in the SHRs 30 s postcontraction. The delayed recovery persisted for 120 s postcontraction for both tissue [86 +/- 11 (SHRs) vs. 119 +/- 13% (WKYs) of resting values] and venular [74 +/- 2 (SHRs) vs. 100 +/- 9% (WKYs) of resting values] Po(2) levels. There was no significant difference in the recovery of arteriolar Po(2) between the two groups 30 s postcontraction [95 +/- 7 (SHRs) vs. 84 +/- 8% (WKYs) of resting values]. Values for resting diameter of arcade arterioles in the two groups were not different [52 +/- 3 (SHRs) vs. 51 +/- 3 microm (WKYs)], but the arteriolar diameter after the 3-min contraction period was greater in the SHRs (71 +/- 4 microm) than the WKYs (66 +/- 4). Likewise, red blood cell (RBC) velocity [5.8 +/- 0.3 (SHRs) vs. 4.7 +/- 0.2 mm/s (WKYs)] and blood flow [23.0 +/- 0.8 (SHRs) vs. 16.0 +/- 1.0 nl/s (WKYs)] measurements were significantly greater in the SHRs at 30 s postcontraction. The delayed recovery of tissue Po(2) in the SHRs compared with the WKYs can be explained by a decrease in oxygen diffusion from the rarefied microvascular network due to the increased RBC velocity and the shorter residence time in the microcirculation and the consequent disequilibrium for oxygen between plasma and RBCs. The delayed recovery of venular Po(2) in the SHRs is consistent with this explanation, as venular Po(2) is slowly restored to baseline by release of oxygen from the RBCs. This leaves the arterioles in the primary role as oxygen suppliers to restore Po(2) in the tissue after muscle contraction.

Animals↗

Systemic responses to prolonged hemorrhagic hypotension.

Studies are needed to provide a rigorous examination of the relevance of monitored variables during prolonged hemorrhagic hypotension (HH). This study was designed to investigate the parameters that describe biochemical and O2 transport patterns in animals subjected to HH. Systemic parameters that could differentiate survivors from nonsurvivors were identified. An aortic flow probe was implanted in rats (n = 21) for continuous measurement of cardiac output. Experiments were performed 6-9 days after surgery. Rats were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg and kept at that level using Ringer-lactate solution. Arterial and venous blood pressures, gases, acid-base status, glucose, lactate, electrolytes, hemoglobin, O2 saturation, heart and respiratory rates, total peripheral resistance, and O2 delivery and consumption were measured before hemorrhage, soon after 40 mmHg was reached, and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h later. Fifty-three percent of rats survived > or =3 h (survivors); others were considered nonsurvivors. Nonsurvivors showed a significantly greater degree of metabolic acidosis than survivors. Arterial PO2, respiratory rate, O2 saturation, O2 content, glucose, and pH were significantly higher in survivors. The rate of Ringer-lactate infusion, arterial K+, and PCO2 were lower in survivors. Arterial K+ and respiratory rate were the only parameters significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors at all time points during HH. Arterial levels of K+ showed the clearest distinction between survivors and nonsurvivors and may explain the sudden death experienced by animals during HH. The data suggest that early respiratory and metabolic compensations are essential for survival of prolonged HH.

Animals↗

Thermostatic animal platform for intravital microscopy of thin tissues.

We describe a novel temperature-controlled, all-on-board design platform for intravital microscopy of thin tissues in small laboratory animals. The apparatus uses transparent heaters and miniature controllers to control independently the temperature of the tissue pedestal and animal heating pad, as well as the animal core temperature. The system ensures a uniform temperature for a thin tissue placed on the surface of a transparent window and maintenance of the animal's core temperature without overheating. This platform provides an alternative to warm superfusion solution for in vivo microscopy, under circumstances where a well-controlled temperature is required. All components of the apparatus are commercially available, inexpensive and reliable, thereby simplifying its assembly. The platform is convenient for use with trans- and epi-illumination and does not interfere with movement of the microscope stage.

Animals↗

Theoretical analysis of effects of blood substitute affinity and cooperativity on organ oxygen transport.

Hemoglobin-based O(2) carriers (HBOCs), which are developed as an alternative to blood transfusion, provide O(2) delivery. At present, there is no model to predict the O(2) transport for a red blood cell-HBOC mixture on a whole organ basis. On the basis of the first principles of mass balance, a model of O(2) transport for an organ was derived to calculate venous Po(2) (Pv(O(2))) for a given inlet arterial Po(2) (Pa(O(2))), blood flow, and oxygen consumption. The model was validated by using several in vivo animal studies on HBOC administration for a wide range of HBOC oxygen-binding parameters and predicted Pv(O(2)) for various Pa(O(2)) in the same species. The model was also used to predict the effect of HBOC affinity and cooperativity on Pv(O(2)) for humans. The results indicate that Pv(O(2)) can be increased at a constant blood flow-to-oxygen consumption ratio by reducing the affinity of HBOC for normoxia and mild hypoxia; however, a high-affinity HBOC would be more efficient in maintaining higher Pv(O(2)) for severe hypoxia (Pa(O(2)) < 40 Torr).

Animals↗

Impact of microscope numerical aperture on microspectrophotometric measurements of hemoglobin in microvessels.

In the microspectrophotometric method to measure hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation in microvessels it is recommended that a low numerical aperture (NA) condenser be employed to ensure that the recorded image is a true projection of the object. However, this tenet has never been rigorously justified. In this study, the microspectrophotometric method is evaluated using the theory of three-dimensional image formation by a light microscope for a wide range of NA. The results of the calculations show that for measurements for hemoglobin concentration, the recorded image is close to the true projection only when the size of the microvessel is large compared to the degree of smearing ( proportional, variant 1/NA) but small compared to the degree of defocus ( proportional, variant NA(2)). These opposing tendencies lead to an optimum NA for which the errors are minimum. This optimum NA is a function of the size of the microvessel and the manner in which the hemoglobin concentration is distributed within the lumen. For measurements of oxygen saturation, the recorded image is the true projection as long as the measurements are made in regions near the microvessel centerline. For measurements made in regions away from the centerline, good agreement was obtained only when the distribution of oxygen saturation was uniform. Reconstruction of the axisymmetric profiles from the recorded projections showed that the errors in the projections cause the recovered profiles to deviate from the true profiles. These deviations are directly related to the extent by which the recorded projections deviate from the true projection.

Animals↗