Intradermal Microdialysis: An Approach to Investigating Novel Mechanisms of Microvascular Dysfunction in Humans

Summary

Intradermal microdialysis is a minimally invasive technique used to investigate microvascular function in health and disease. Both dose-response and local heating protocols can be utilized for this technique to explore mechanisms of vasodilation and vasoconstriction in the cutaneous circulation.

Abstract

The cutaneous vasculature is an accessible tissue that can be used to assess microvascular function in humans. Intradermal microdialysis is a minimally invasive technique used to investigate mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial function in the cutaneous circulation. This technique allows for the pharmacological dissection of the pathophysiology of microvascular endothelial dysfunction as indexed by decreased nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, an indicator of cardiovascular disease development risk. In this technique, a microdialysis probe is placed in the dermal layer of the skin, and a local heating unit with a laser Doppler flowmetry probe is placed over the probe to measure the red blood cell flux. The local skin temperature is clamped or stimulated with direct heat application, and pharmacological agents are perfused through the probe to stimulate or inhibit intracellular signaling pathways in order to induce vasodilation or vasoconstriction or to interrogate mechanisms of interest (co-factors, antioxidants, etc.). The cutaneous vascular conductance is quantified, and mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in disease states can be delineated.

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States¹. Hypertension (HTN) is an independent risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure and is estimated to affect upward of ~50% of the United States population². HTN can develop as an independent CVD (primary HTN) or as a result of another condition, such as polycystic kidney disease and/or endocrine disorders (secondary HTN). The breadth of etiologies of HTN complicates investigations into the underlying mechanisms and end-organ damage observed with HTN. Diverse and novel research approaches into the pathophysiology of the....

Protocol

All procedures are approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Pennsylvania State University prior to participant recruitment.

1. Equipment setup

1. Turn on the local heating unit and the laser Doppler flowmeter.
   NOTE: Both should be calibrated prior to data collection according to the manufacturer's instructions. The laser Doppler flowmeter should be connected to data acquisition hardware with sampling at 100 Hz (100 samples/min) and continuous recording in a data ac.......

Discussion

The intradermal microdialysis technique is a versatile tool in human vascular research. Investigators may alter the protocol to further diversify its applications. For example, we describe an ACh dose-response protocol, but other investigations into the mechanisms of vasoconstriction or vasomotor tone, rather than vasodilation alone, have utilized norepinephrine or sodium nitroprusside dose-response approaches^26,27,28,

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1 mL syringes	BD Syringes	302100
Acetlycholine	United States Pharmacopeia	1424511	Pilot data collected in our lab indicate drying acetylcholine increases variability of CVC response; do not dry, store in desiccator
Alcohol swabs	Mckesson	191089
Baby Bee Syringe Drive	Bioanalytical Systems, Incorporated	MD-1001	In this study the optional 3-syringe bracket (catalg number MD-1002) was utilized
CMA 30 Linear Microdialysis Probes	Harvard Apparatus	CMA8010460
Connex Spot Monitor	WelchAllyn	74CT-B	automated blood pressure monitor
Hive Syringe Pump Controller	Bioanalytical Systems, Incorporated	MD-1020	Controls up to 4 Baby Bee Syringe Drives
LabChart 8	AD Instruments		**PowerLab hardware and LabChart software must be compatible versions
Lactated Ringer's Solution	Avantor (VWR)	76313-478
Laser Doppler Blood FlowMeter	Moor Instruments	MoorVMS-LDF
Laser Doppler probe calibration kit	Moor Instruments	CAL
Laser Doppler VP12 probe	Moor Instruments	VP12
Linear Microdialysis Probes	Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.	MD-2000
NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester	Sigma Aldrich	483125-M	L-NAME
Povidone-iodine / betadine	Dynarex	1202
PowerLab C Data Acquisition Device	AD Instruments	PLC01	**
PowerLab C Instrument Interface	AD Instruments	PLCI1	**
Probe adhesive discs	Moor Instruments		attach local heating unit to skin
Skin Heater Controller	Moor Instruments	moorVMS-HEAT 1.3
Small heating probe	Moor Instruments	VHP2
Sterile drapes	Halyard	89731
Sterile gauze	Dukal Corporation	2085
Sterile surgical gloves	Esteem Cardinal Health	8856N	catalogue number followed by the initials of the glove size, then the letter "B" (e.g., 8856NMB for medium)
Surgical scissors	Cole-Parmer	UX-06287-26