Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1987
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Biomedical Engineering Committee
First Advisor
Basil Baltzis
Second Advisor
Arthur B. Ritter
Third Advisor
David S. Kristol
Abstract
Blood circulation at the microcirculatory level plays an important role in the inflammatory process. Adhesion and emigration of white blood cells are among the major microcirculatory responses to inflammation. It has been recently suggested that platelet activating factor (PAF) may be a significant mediator in the local inflammatory response. This research was undertaken to characterize and quantitate the effects of PAF on the adhesion of white cells to the wall of postcapillary venules of 7-80um diameter.
The hamster cheek pouch microcirculation was used as a model for microcirculatory dynamics and was prepared for both bright field and fluorescent intravital microscopy. Leukocyte adhesion to vessel walls was investigated by labeling the white blood cells with Acridine Orange dye. PAF was applied topically to the hamster cheek pouch for a period of three minutes in each experiment. The concentration of PAF in separate experiments ranged from 10-11 to 10-7 M.
Adhesion of leukocytes to venular walls was evaluated by counting the number of adhering to the venular wall leukocytes per 100um of wall length at 30 minute time intervals for periods of up to 4 hours following the topical application of PAF. Venules of various diameters ranging from 7um to 80um were observed. The application of the PAF increased the number of white blood cells adhering to the vessel walls. Interestingly, the maximum adhesion occurred when PAF was applied at the lowest concentration (10-11M). At a concentration of PAF of 10-7M, the adhesion of white cells was closest to control.
The experiments demonstrate that PAF produces a dose related adhesion of leukocytes. These results support the theory that PAF is involved in the chain of events associated with local inflammatory process.
Recommended Citation
FitzPatrick, Michael Francis, "The effect of platelet activating factor on leukocyte adhesion to the post capillary walls and developing dose response relationships" (1987). Theses. 3097.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3097
