A New Technique for Vital Microscopic Studies of the Capillary Bed in Rat Skin

Abstract

TV [Television] microscopy proved advantageous in visualization of skin microcirculation. Light from a strong xenon lamp @i@@s reflected from skin in focus through the incident light microscope to a TV camera tube, where light is transformed into electronic waves and scanned on a TV screen. Magnifications of about 340 x and 1000 x were obtained, the resolution being less than 5.3 [mu] or less than 2.2 [mu], respectively. Circulating blood corpuscles are recorded on the screen as black bodies, and appear clearly separated in the true capillaries. Observations on the vasomotion is thus possible. The technique used is, to a great extent, a-traumatic to the skin. For documentary purpose the skin microcirculation was recorded by photo and cinematography taken from the TV screen.