Regional sciatic nerve blood flow was measured using a laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF; PeriFlux PF4; Perimed AB, Datavägen Sweden), as previously described (24 (link)). Relative flow values expressed as perfusion units were recorded under anesthesia. Regional sciatic nerve blood flow values from db/m mice were used as baseline values, and data are presented as a perfusion ratio.
To further examine blood perfusion in footpads and sciatic nerves, we used a laser Doppler perfusion imager system and analyzed with PIMSoft Software (Perimed AB). Mice were anesthetized, and the sensor was placed 10 cm above the footpad or exposed sciatic nerve. The apparatus displayed blood perfusion signal as a color-coded image ranging from dark blue (low perfusion) to bright red (high perfusion). To analyze the regional blood flow, we took time periods of interest and got the average regions of interest for each animal.
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–dextran (2 × 106 molecular weight, 0.2 mL of 50 mg/mL; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) was intravenously injected to perfuse blood vessels (24 (link),26 (link)). The density of FITC-dextran–perfused vessels was measured and divided by the total tissue area (mm2) to determine vascular density.
To further examine blood perfusion in footpads and sciatic nerves, we used a laser Doppler perfusion imager system and analyzed with PIMSoft Software (Perimed AB). Mice were anesthetized, and the sensor was placed 10 cm above the footpad or exposed sciatic nerve. The apparatus displayed blood perfusion signal as a color-coded image ranging from dark blue (low perfusion) to bright red (high perfusion). To analyze the regional blood flow, we took time periods of interest and got the average regions of interest for each animal.
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–dextran (2 × 106 molecular weight, 0.2 mL of 50 mg/mL; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) was intravenously injected to perfuse blood vessels (24 (link),26 (link)). The density of FITC-dextran–perfused vessels was measured and divided by the total tissue area (mm2) to determine vascular density.
