Figure 3.
Microvascular effect of ultrasound and microbubbles on an endothelial cell level, resulting in a decreased inflammatory response, leading to vasodilation through: (1) activation of shear stress resulting in an increase in intracellular H2O2, which results in the production of extracellular NO; (2) a decrease of superoxide; and (3) a decrease in rolling/adhered leukocytes. (A) The untreated situation without ultrasound; (B) treatment with ultrasound.
NO: nitric oxide; H2O2: hydrogen peroxide; O2−: superoxide.