PMID: 8595626Nov 1, 1995Paper

Direct visualization of atherosclerosis in small coronary arteries using the epifluorescence stereoscope

Cardiovascular Research
J HayashiK Aizawa

Abstract

To visualize specifically at the beating heart surface atherosclerosis in small coronary arteries using the photosensitiser, mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6). Cholesterol-fed atherosclerotic rabbits were injected intravenously with 2.0 mg/kg of NPe6. Atherosclerosis was visualized by allowing NPe6 to accumulate in atheromatous plaques, and then used as a potent fluoroprobe to illuminate atherosclerotic coronary arteries upon excitation by light. An epifluorescence stereoscope system was used to visualize atherosclerosis in small coronary arteries. Although it was unable to specify the parts of the coronary arteries which had atherosclerotic changes under room light with the naked eye, several brightly illuminated branching small coronary arteries were observed clearly against the dark heart surface through the epifluorescence stereoscope, as an exciting mercury blue light beam was used to irradiate the beating heart. A fluorescence micrograph of the coronary artery, at which orange-red fluorescence was seen through the epifluorescence stereoscope, showed that the atheromatous plaques emitted orange-red fluorescence. The presence and extent of small coronary atherosclerosis were demonstrated in the beating heart. Such informati...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 29, 2016·Cardiovascular Therapeutics·Manish JainMarie-Noelle Giraud

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