Leukocyte adherence in venules of rat skeletal muscle following thermal injury

An intravital microscopic study of rat skeletal muscle microvasculature was undertaken to explore the relationship of adherent leukocytes to the venous microcirculation following thermal injury. WBC adherence was increased in venules in the acute period following thermal injury. This increase was not dependent upon changes in wall shear stress. The presence of sticking leukocytes was associated with a disruption of the normal relationship between venular radius and flow. In contrast to previous studies, there was no evidence for erythrocyte sludging or diameter changes in venules following thermal injury.