Document Detail


Retinal venous oxygen saturation increases by flicker light stimulation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20671271     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: Luminance flicker stimulation of the photoreceptors is known to increase retinal blood flow. Elevated blood velocity was determined using laser Doppler velocimetry, and increased vascular diameters during flicker were observed by measurements with a retinal vessel analyzer. Oxygen supply may be the target of the regulation of retinal blood flow. Thus, the oxygen saturation (SO(2)) in retinal arterioles and venules was investigated along with their diameters.
METHODS: Dual-wavelength (548 nm and 610 nm) fundus images were taken in 19 healthy volunteers (mean age, 26 ± 2.5 years) before (baseline) and during luminance flicker stimulation (12.5 Hz; modulation depth, 1:25). Retinal vessel SO(2) (dual-wavelength optical oximetry) and diameters (central retinal arterial and venous equivalents [CRAE and CRVE]) were determined.
RESULTS: CRAEs and CRVEs of 193 ± 20 μm and 228 ± 20 μm at baseline increased statistically significant to a maximum of 202 ± 19 μm (P < 0.0005) and 242 ± 17 μm (P < 0.0005), respectively, under flicker stimulation. Although the arterial SO(2) remained unchanged at 98%-99%, an increase of the venous saturation from 60% ± 5.7% to 64% ± 5.9% (P < 0.0005) was found.
CONCLUSIONS: In agreement with earlier investigations, the vessel dilation found here indicates an elevation of retinal blood flow by luminance flicker stimulation. This increase of the flow should meet the enhanced metabolic need of the neural retina under a physiological stimulus. The augmentation of venous oxygenation may indicate a higher capillary oxygen concentration, necessary to provide a sufficient diffusion rate of oxygen from the capillaries to the inner retinal tissue.
Authors:
Martin Hammer; Walthard Vilser; Thomas Riemer; Fanny Liemt; Susanne Jentsch; Jens Dawczynski; Dietrich Schweitzer
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2011-01-05
Journal Detail:
Title:  Investigative ophthalmology & visual science     Volume:  52     ISSN:  1552-5783     ISO Abbreviation:  Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-01-06     Completed Date:  2011-02-07     Revised Date:  2011-03-04    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7703701     Medline TA:  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  274-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany. martin.hammer@med.uni-jena.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Blood Flow Velocity
Female
Hemoglobins / metabolism
Humans
Laser-Doppler Flowmetry
Male
Oximetry
Oxygen / metabolism*
Photic Stimulation*
Regional Blood Flow / radiation effects
Retina / radiation effects*
Retinal Artery / physiology
Retinal Vein / physiology*
Vasodilation / physiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Hemoglobins; 7782-44-7/Oxygen

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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