Figure 4

Effect of DPTA-NO treatment on venular resistance to blood flow on day 6 of infection. Venules were categorized in three brackets according to diameter: 20-30 μm, 30-40 μm and 40-50 μm. (A): number of adherent leukocytes and platelets per category: accumulation of leukocytes and platelets increases in the higher diameter brackets in saline-treated but not in DPTA-NO-treated mice. (B): Venular resistance to blood flow is increased in all brackets in saline-treated PbA-infected mice in relation to vessels without inflammation (WI - dashed line), particularly in the 30-40 μm range (P < 0.05). DPTA-NO treatment has no effect on venular resistance in smaller (20-30 μm) venules but significantly decreases resistance in larger (30-40 μm) venules. Although the number of leukocytes is higher in venules 40-50 μm in saline-treated PbA-infected mice, the effect on resistance to blood flow is minor. Data in (A) and (B) are the mean ± standard deviation.