Figure 3.

Molecular imaging with rPSGL-1-conjugated fluorescent MSs reveals role of PAF in endothelial injury in vivo. Endothelial injury in the fundus vasculature in vivo was quantified using our adhesion-molecule-conjugated imaging agents in normal animals with and without intravitreal PAF injection. At 24 h after PAF-injection, rPSGL-1-conjugated MSs were systemically injected; 30 min later, the fundus was imaged using SLO (30° angle at 15 frames/s). Number of MSs in this region was quantified. A) Schematic of our in vivo molecular imaging approach. B) Representative SLO still images showing adhering MSs in retinas of live animals. Bright spots indicate adhering MSs that resisted the blood flow. C) In vivo quantification of the number of accumulated MSs in retinal vessels, indicating the level of endothelial injury. D) In vivo quantification of MS accumulation in the choroidal vessels of control and PAF-injected animals. E) Ex vivo quantification of the number of MSs in flat mounts of retinal vessels. F) Ex vivo quantification of the number of MSs in flat mounts of choroidal vessels.