Porcine coronary collateral formation in the absence of a pressure gradient remote of the ischemic border zone.

In the current paradigm on coronary collateral development, it is assumed that these vessels develop consequentially from increased fluid shear stress (FSS) through preexisting collateral arteries. The increased FSS follows from an increase in pressure gradient between the region at risk and well-perfused surroundings. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that, in the heart, collateral connections can form in the absence of an increased FFS and consequentially at any depth and region within the ventricular wall.

Vascular fluorescence casting and imaging cryomicrotomy for computerized three-dimensional renal arterial reconstruction.

Unlabelled: Authors from the Netherlands studied the use of a casting technique, cryomicrotome imaging and three-dimensional computer analysis to visualise and reconstruct the arterial anatomy in a porcine kidney model. They found that this could be done satisfactorily to a resolution of 50 microm.

Objective: To assess the combined use of a casting technique, cryomicrotomy imaging, and three-dimensional (3D) computer analysis as a method for visualizing and reconstructing the arterial vascular tree in a porcine renal model.