Microvascular research最新文献

{"title":"Nailfold capillary morphology changes in patients with retinal vein occlusion","authors":"Wenbo Zhang,&nbsp;Hailong Wu,&nbsp;Yadi Zhang,&nbsp;Xiaopeng Gu,&nbsp;Hongping Nie,&nbsp;Yuan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To investigate the changes in the morphology of nailfold capillaries in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and their relationship with retinal vessel density (RVD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional study, included 30 patients with RVO and 30 normal controls. Nailfold capillaroscopy was used to evaluate the morphology of the nailfold capillaries, and optical coherence tomography angiography was used to evaluate RVD.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Abnormal morphological features of nailfold capillaries, including lower capillary density (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), more tortuous capillaries (<em>p</em> = 0.003), more capillary dilation &gt;25 μm (<em>p</em> = 0.001), and more avascular areas &gt;200/μm (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), were more common in patients with RVO than in normal controls. Compared to the normal eye, the affected eyes of patients with RVO showed lower RVD in the superficial vascular plexus (SCP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). There following correlations between abnormal nailfold capillaries and RVD in affected eyes of RVO patients were observed: the number of nailfold capillary hemorrhages was negatively associated with RVD in the SCP (ρ = −0.376, <em>p</em> = 0.046) and ICP (ρ = −0.506, <em>p</em> = 0.004); the number of dilated capillaries &gt;25 μm was negatively associated with RVD in the ICP (ρ = −0.389, <em>p</em> = 0.033); and the number of avascular zones &gt;200/μm was negatively associated with RVD in the DCP (ρ = −0.374, <em>p</em> = 0.041).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Patients with RVO have abnormal morphology of the nailfold capillaries. In addition, nailfold capillary changes are correlated with RVD, suggesting that systemic microcirculatory abnormalities may be associated with RVO.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104822"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interfering with AQP1 alleviates ferroptosis, improves mitochondrial function and energy metabolic disorder in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes via Wnt/β-catenin pathway","authors":"Shali Xiang ,&nbsp;Xuewen Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is the main pathological manifestation of coronary artery disease closely linked with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is a water molecule that has been reported to be highly expressed during the process of myocardial I/R injury. The aim of this research was to explore the role of AQP1 in myocardial I/R injury and the relevant mechanism of action. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect AQP1 expression. CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability. JC-1 dye, MitoSox-Red staining and ATP-Red 1 probe were respectively used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) and ATP synthesis. C11-BODIPY 581/591 probe and FerroOrange probe were respectively used to measure lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe(²⁺). Seahorse XFe96 Analyser was used to detect oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Assay kits were used to estimate mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, total iron and lipid peroxidation levels. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of ferroptosis, energy metabolism and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins. AQP1 expression was elevated in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-exposed H9c2 cells. Deficient AQP1 promoted the viability, ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, ferroptosis and energy metabolism disorder in H/R-injured H9c2 cells. Further, AQP1 deletion might activate Wnt/β-catenin pathway and XAV939, an inhibitor of Wnt signaling pathway could partially revert the influences of AQP1 knockdown on the viability, mitochondrial function, ferroptosis and energy metabolism in H/R-treated H9c2 cells. To be concluded, AQP1 interference might protect against H/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, ferroptosis and energy metabolism disorder in H9c2 cells via modulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104821"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hyperglycemia-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction: Mechanisms and therapeutic interventions","authors":"Changsheng Chen ,&nbsp;Xi Xu ,&nbsp;Jiahao Lu ,&nbsp;Yuqing Xiang ,&nbsp;Linsheng Shi ,&nbsp;Dong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a highly selective interface that regulates the transport of molecules between the blood and the brain. Its integrity is essential for maintaining neuronal homeostasis and preventing neuroinflammation. Hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes, is linked to cognitive deficits and central nervous system (CNS) pathologies, including vascular dementia, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease, with BBB damage as a potential contributing factor. As the global prevalence of diabetes rises, understanding the connection between hyperglycemia and BBB dysfunction may facilitate the development of novel treatments that protect or restore BBB integrity, thereby alleviating the neurological complications of diabetes. Furthermore, it may aid in the development of targeted therapies for diabetes-related neurological complications. This literature review examines the emerging insights into the relationship between hyperglycemia and BBB dysfunction. It focuses on the mechanisms underlying BBB dysfunction, the clinical manifestations of this dysfunction in diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases, and potential therapeutic interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104820"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Day-to-day variability in cutaneous microcirculation measured with multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging and multispectral imaging","authors":"Moa Nilsson ,&nbsp;Martin Hultman ,&nbsp;Freya Richter ,&nbsp;Joakim Henricson ,&nbsp;Marcus Larsson ,&nbsp;Tomas Strömberg ,&nbsp;Ingemar Fredriksson ,&nbsp;Fredrik Iredahl","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Dysfunctional microcirculation is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, chronic disease such as diabetes and acute conditions like septic shock. The non-invasive optical techniques laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) are often used to measure perfusion and oxygen saturation, but are limited to single-point measurements making them sensitive to spatial variations. The imaging modalities multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging (MELSCI) and multi-spectral imaging (MSI) overcome this limitation by capturing the parameters in a larger skin area.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To assess the day-to-day variability of speed-resolved perfusion and oxygen saturation in the forearm and plantar foot at baseline and peak response following arterial occlusion-release, while also evaluating sex and age influences.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>MELSCI and MSI were used on 48 participants (12 males and 12 females aged 20–30, and 12 males and 12 females aged 50–60) across two measurements within a week. Each measurement lasted 60 min, with perfusion and oxygen saturation being measured at baseline (10 min), during occlusion (5 min), and post-occlusion (5 min) as spatial averages over the entire imaged tissue area.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Older age was associated with higher foot perfusion at peak (<em>p</em> = 0.006). Variability (CV) ranged from 1.4 % to 19 %, with foot low-speed perfusion showing a sex- and age-related difference at peak (<em>p</em> = 0.007).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Age and sex influenced microcirculatory parameters, aligning with prior research. MELSCI and MSI demonstrated low day-to-day variability, making them promising techniques for clinical disease monitoring. The variability of MELSCI perfusion was lower than previously reported for laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) perfusion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104819"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144086444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MicroRNA regulatory dynamic, emerging diagnostic and therapeutic frontier in atherosclerosis","authors":"Syeda Armana Zaidi,&nbsp;Zhiyu Fan,&nbsp;Talha Chauhdari,&nbsp;Yongsheng Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104818","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104818","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, are pivotal post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression with profound implications in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). As a progressive arterial disease driven by vascular cells dysfunction, lipid dysregulation and subsequent chronic inflammation, AS remains a leading cause of global morbidity. Recent studies have demonstrated how important miRNAs are in regulating central biological processes in the vascular wall, such as endothelial function, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switching, and macrophage polarization. This review provides comprehensive insight into the role of miRNAs in the development and complexity of atherosclerotic plaques according to their effects on endothelial cells, macrophages, and VSMCs. We also go over the growing prospects of miRNAs as therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers, providing information to be used in the study of vascular diseases. Lastly, we address recent complications and potential applications of miRNA-based approaches in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104818"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Activated partial thromboplastin time levels and coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease: A retrospective cohort study","authors":"Jinhui Zhou ,&nbsp;Chao Ni ,&nbsp;Zhenquan Wang ,&nbsp;Yuhan Xia ,&nbsp;Hongying Shi ,&nbsp;Xiaoshan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yufei Chen ,&nbsp;Chenchen Liu ,&nbsp;Xing Rong ,&nbsp;Rongzhou Wu ,&nbsp;Maoping Chu ,&nbsp;Huixian Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104817","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104817","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic inflammation, that affects medium-sized arteries. Coronary artery lesions (CALs) were the most serious complication or sequelae of KD. The intense inflammatory response leads to platelet activation, further exacerbating inflammation, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CALs in KD patients. Plus, coagulation factors are closely related to platelet activation. Therefore, we speculate that the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), an indicator of coagulation factor function, may be involved in the occurrence of CALs, but it has not been explored yet. This study aims to investigate the effect of the APTT level on CALs occurrence in the acute phase of KD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 2303 KD patients during a 10-year period were recruited at the Wenzhou Medical University affiliated Yuying Children's Hospital. A total of 1715 patients who completed the follow-up were enrolled in the final analysis and were divided into the low APTT group and the high APTT group at a 46 s cutoff before receiving intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. Multiple logistic regression analysis and stratified analysis were utilized to evaluate the independent impact of APTT levels on the occurrence of CALs and to determine the impact of APTT levels on the occurrence of CALs in different subgroups, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The incidence of CALs in the low APTT group and the high APTT group was 12.5 % and 17.5 %, respectively (<em>P</em> = 0.005). Patients with high APTT levels had higher CRP levels (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). High APTT levels were the independent risk factor on the occurrence of CALs; the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.523 (95 % CI: 1.144, 2.028). Similar results were found in stratification analysis and sensitivity analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>KD patients with high APTT levels (≥46 s) before IVIG treatment may be more prone to developing CALs in the acute phase of KD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104817"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of the PDGF-BB/PDGFR-β signaling pathway in microcirculatory disturbances and BBB destruction after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in mice","authors":"Guanping Tan ,&nbsp;Jing Wang ,&nbsp;Wenli Xing ,&nbsp;Zhaohui He","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large vessel spasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) does not fully explain the mechanism underlying delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and increasing evidence suggests that microcirculatory function plays an important role in DCI. Previous studies on PDGF-BB and its downstream pathways have focused mostly on large vessel spasms after SAH, and no attention has been given to the relationship between the PDGF pathway and microcirculation. By establishing in vitro and ex vivo mouse SAH models via the addition of PDGF-BB and PDGFRβ antagonists, the expression of PDGFRβ and its downstream proteins was examined to assess the effects of the intervention on neurological function scores, cerebral edema, and blood–brain barrier permeability in mice after aSAH and to observe the state of the cerebral cortex microvasculature in each group of mice after model establishment using transmission electron microscopy. PDGFRβ expression increased after SAH and activated the downstream ERK and AKT pathways, and the inhibitor imatinib inhibited this effect. Imatinib administration ameliorated neurological impairments, reduced brain edema and significantly inhibited blood–brain barrier disruption in mice after SAH. One week after SAH, we observed that imatinib intervention attenuated damage to the microcirculatory system and partially preserved the normal function of the microcirculation. Imatinib reduced BBB disruption and improved microcirculatory function in the early post-SAH period by blocking PDGFR and its downstream pathway, thereby attenuating neurological impairment after SAH. The PDGF-BB–PDGFR-β pathway may play an important role in post-SAH DCI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104816"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143921956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A cost-effective vessel-on-a-chip for high shear stress applications in vascular biology","authors":"Clarissa Becher ,&nbsp;Martin Frauenlob ,&nbsp;Florian Selinger ,&nbsp;Peter Ertl ,&nbsp;Marie-José Goumans ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Sanchez-Duffhues","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The vascular endothelium is constantly subjected to hemodynamic forces, including tangential shear stress, which are crucial for maintaining vascular homeostasis. Pathological shear stress levels, such as those observed in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or atherosclerosis, disrupt this balance, driving vascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction. Current microfluidic platforms for studying these conditions are limited by high costs, excessive reagent requirements, and non-physiological channel geometries. Here we introduce a novel microfluidic chip system, a Nylon Vessel-on-a-Chip (NVoC) which represents a cost-effective and straightforward fabrication platform that eliminates the need for specialized equipment and enables a physiologically relevant round channel geometry. The NVoC was fabricated using Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and nylon threads, with surface activation achieved through polydopamine and collagen-I coating, enabling robust endothelial cell (EC) attachment and long-term culture. Immortalized endothelial colony-forming cells (iECFCs) and human umbilical vein EC (HUVECs) were used to optimize and validate the platform, demonstrating its compatibility with high shear stress conditions (up to 90 dyne/cm²) and various molecular biology techniques, including RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining. With fabrication costs six times lower than commercial alternatives and overall experimental costs reduced threefold, the NVoC offers the ability to expose endothelial cells to physiological and pathological shear stress levels in a reproducible, accessible, and scalable manner. Its versatility and affordability make it a valuable tool for investigating shear stress-related mechanisms in microvascular diseases, particularly PAH, with potential applications in drug discovery and translational research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104814"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proteomics suggests the role of Cxcl12 secreted by hucMSCs in the treatment of lipopolysaccharide-acute lung injury","authors":"Jinfeng Cui ,&nbsp;Liqing Luo ,&nbsp;Hongmei Geng ,&nbsp;Yunxiu Gao ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Chen ,&nbsp;Qilin Yu ,&nbsp;Xiao Huang ,&nbsp;Xiaozhi Wang ,&nbsp;Ting Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a high mortality rate, and its treatment is relatively straightforward. The application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) for the treatment of ARDS has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach and has been the subject of extensive research. In this study, a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI) was established, and hucMSCs were administered via tail vein injection to investigate the pathogenesis of ARDS and the protein alterations following hucMSC treatment. Data-independent acquisition (DIA) was employed for the proteomic analysis of lung tissue, which included the identification of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and their associated pathways. The relevant DEPs identified in the lung tissues of the three groups of mice included Arid5a, Mrpl4, Cxcl12, and Rnf121 (<em>P</em> &lt;0.05). Silencing the expression of Cxcl12 in hucMSCs could significantly inhibit the therapeutic effect of hucMSCs in reducing the permeability of lung tissue and endothelial cells (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, the signaling pathways associated with the relevant DEPs were analyzed. The DEPs and the enriched pathways discussed herein provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of ARDS and the potential applications of hucMSCs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104815"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on skeletal muscle function and interstitial PO2 in contracting muscle of normal rats","authors":"Kazuki Hotta ,&nbsp;Yutaka Fujii ,&nbsp;Naoki Hitosugi ,&nbsp;Ren Takamizawa ,&nbsp;Tatsuro Inoue ,&nbsp;Hajime Tamiya ,&nbsp;Atsuhiro Tsubaki","doi":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aimed to clarify the effects of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) on skeletal muscle oxygen pressure and function in rats.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Male Sprague-Dawley rats (2–3 months old, <em>n</em> = 17) were randomized into control and VA-ECMO groups. All animals were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. The VA-ECMO circuit was established by cannulating the right jugular vein and left carotid artery. Interstitial PO₂ in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle was measured using a phosphorescence quenching technique during electrically induced muscle contractions. Muscle tension was analyzed to evaluate the rate of force development (RFD) and relaxation rate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to controls, arterial oxygen pressure (PaO₂) was significantly higher, while hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the VA-ECMO group (both <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Interstitial PO₂ was significantly reduced at rest and during contractions in the VA-ECMO group (both <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Muscle relaxation was delayed, and peak tension was lower in the VA-ECMO group compared to controls (both p &lt; 0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>VA-ECMO impairs skeletal muscle function and reduces interstitial PO2 in contracting muscles, effects that appear independent of hyperoxemia. These findings provide insight into the microcirculatory and functional consequences of VA-ECMO on skeletal muscle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18534,"journal":{"name":"Microvascular research","volume":"160 ","pages":"Article 104813"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143875032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}