Introduction Microvascular changes in the skin due to pharmacological and physiological provocations can be used as a marker for vascular function. While laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) has been used extensively for measurement of skin microvascular responses, Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) and Tissue Viability Imaging (TiVi) are novel imaging techniques. TiVi measures red blood cell concentration, while LDF and LSCI measure perfusion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare responses to provocations in the skin using these different techniques. Method Changes in skin microcirculation were measured in healthy subjects during (1) iontophoresis of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and noradrenaline (NA), (2) local heating and (3) post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) using LDF, LSCI and TiVi. Results Iontophoresis of SNP increased perfusion (LSCI: baseline 40.9 +/- 6.2 PU; 10-min 100 +/- 25 PU; pless than0.001) and RBC concentration (TiVi: baseline 119 +/- 18; 10-min 150 +/- 41 AU; p = 0.011). No change in perfusion (LSCI) was observed after iontophoresis of NA (baseline 38.0 +/- 4.4 PU; 10-min 38.9 +/- 5.0 PU; p = 0.64), while RBC concentration decreased (TiVi: baseline 59.6 +/- 11.8 AU; 10-min 54.4 +/- 13.3 AU; p = 0.021). Local heating increased perfusion (LDF: baseline 8.8 +/- 3.6 PU; max 112 +/- 55 PU; pless than0.001, LSCI: baseline 50.8 +/- 8.0 PU; max 151 +/- 22 PU; pless than0.001) and RBC concentration (TiVi: baseline 49.2 +/- 32.9 AU; max 99.3 +/- 28.3 AU; pless than0.001). After 5 minutes of forearm occlusion with prior exsanguination, a decrease was seen in perfusion (LDF: p = 0.027; LSCI: pless than0.001) and in RBC concentration (p = 0.045). Only LSCI showed a significant decrease in perfusion after 5 minutes of occlusion without prior exsanguination (pless than0.001). Coefficients of variation were lower for LSCI and TiVi compared to LDF for most responses. Conclusion LSCI is more sensitive than TiVi for measuring microvascular changes during SNP-induced vasodilatation and forearm occlusion. TiVi is more sensitive to noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction. LSCI and TiVi show lower inter-subject variability than LDF. These findings are important to consider when choosing measurement techniques for studying skin microvascular responses.

Objective: After iontophoresis of vasoactive drugs into the skin, a decrease in perfusion is commonly observed. We delivered vasoactive drugs by iontophoresis using different delivery protocols to study how these affect this decrease in perfusion as measured using LDF. Methods: We measured skin perfusion during iontophoresis of (ACh), MCh, andNAusing a single pulse or separate pulses at different skin sites, and during repeated delivery of ACh at the same site. Results: Perfusion half-life was 6.1 (5.6-6.6) minutes for ACh and 41 (29-69) minutes for MCh (p less than 0.001). The maximum response with multiple pulses of ACh iontophoresis was lower than with a single pulse, 30 (22-37) PU vs. 43 (36-50) PU, p less than 0.001. Vasoconstriction to NA was more rapid with a single pulse than with multiple pulses. The perfusion half-life of ACh decreased with repeated delivery of ACh at the same site-first 16 (14-18), second 5.9 (5.1-6-9) and third 3.2 (2.9-3.5) minutes, p less than 0.001. Conclusions: The drug delivery protocol affects microvascular responses to iontophoresis, possibly as a result of differences in the dynamics of local drug concentrations. Perfusion half-life may be used as a measure to quantify the rate of perfusion recovery after iontophoresis of vasoactive drugs.

ObjectiveInsulin has direct effects on blood flow in various tissues, most likely due to endothelial NO production. We investigated whether insulin delivered to the skin by iontophoresis increases microvascular perfusion and whether this effect is partly or completely mediated by the release of NO. MethodsIn healthy subjects, regular insulin and monomeric insulin were delivered to the skin by cathodal iontophoresis. The skin was pretreated either with L-NAME or control solution (PBS) using anodal iontophoresis. Microvascular responses were measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. ResultsA dose-dependent increase in perfusion was observed during iontophoresis of regular and monomeric insulin. The maximum perfusion was significantly elevated compared with control after PBS (regular insulin 53.6 (12.7-95.6) PU vs. 4.2 (3.4-4.8) PU, p = 0.002; monomeric insulin 32.6 (8.9-92.6) PU vs. 5.9 (3.4-56.0) PU, p = 0.03). The microvascular response to insulin was abolished after L-NAME (regular insulin: 25.6 (11.6-54.4) PU vs. control: 4.7 (2.9-11.5) PU, p = 0.15; monomeric insulin 10.9 (5.4-56.8) PU vs. control: 4.7 (2.9-11.5) PU, p = 0.22). ConclusionsThe main finding is that iontophoresis of insulin induces a dose-dependent vasodilation in the skin, which could be suppressed after pretreatment with a NO synthase inhibitor. This suggests that vasodilation in the skin after iontophoresis of insulin is mediated by the NO pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin causes capillary recruitment in muscle and adipose tissue, but the metabolic and microvascular effects of insulin in the skin have not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to measure glucose metabolism and microvascular blood flow in the skin during local insulin delivery and after an oral glucose load.

METHODS: Microdialysis catheters were inserted intracutanously in human subjects. In eight subjects two microdialysis catheters were inserted, one perfused with insulin and one with control solution. First the local effects of insulin was studied, followed by a systemic provocation by an oral glucose load. Additionally, as control experiment, six subjects did not recieve local delivery of insulin or the oral glucose load. During microdialysis the local blood flow was measured by urea clearance and by laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI).

RESULTS: Within 15 minutes of local insulin delivery, microvascular blood flow in the skin increased (urea clearance: P=.047, LSCI: P=.002) paralleled by increases in pyruvate (P=.01) and lactate (P=.04), indicating an increase in glucose uptake. An oral glucose load increased urea clearance from the catheters, indicating an increase in skin perfusion, although no perfusion changes were detected with LSCI. The concentration of glucose, pyruvate and lactate increased in the skin after the oral glucose load.

CONCLUSION: Insulin has metabolic and vasodilatory effects in the skin both when given locally and after systemic delivery through an oral glucose load.