Equipment Grant: Macromolecular Transport in Normal and Tumor Capillary Beds (Effects in Charge and Configuration)

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The overall aim of this study is to quantify the effects of molecular configuration and charge on the transport of macromolecules in normal and tumor capillary-beds. These molecules include well characterized dextrans, immunoglobulins, and monoclonal antibodies, all tagged with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Experimental methods involve growing normal (mature granulation) and tumor (VX2 Carcinoma) tissues in a transparent rabbit ear chamber prepared routinely in the CMU laboratory. Once the tissue preparation is mature, FITC tagged molecules are injected into the animal's circulation. Resulting extravasation of molecules is video recorded for up to three hours using an intravital fluorescene microscopy technique developed in the laboratory. Since the intensity of the photo-signal is very low (i.e. 10-6 ft- candle), a highly sensitive video camera will be purchased. Increased sensitivity and camera resolution enable transport over a small segment of a blood vessel to be monitored..