Figure 3

Transverse sections of rabbit lumbar spinal cord to show the microcirculation after 1 h of ischemia and 23 h reperfusion, revealed by FITC-albumin. A. No CSF removed (Group 1) – the spinal cord demonstrates extremely faint fluorescein signal with absence of capillary filling in both grey matter and white matter, indicating a 'no-reflow' phenomenon. B. Depletion of the CSF (Group 2) – spinal cord section demonstrates intensive fluorescein signals, which are much stronger in grey matter than in white matter, indicating good blood perfusion. C. Replenishment of the CSF (Group 3) – grey matter demonstrates faint fluorescein signal similar to white matter, indicating a marked blood perfusion deficit, i.e. 'low-reflow' phenomenon. D. Albumin-modified artificial CSF replacement (Group 4), and E. Gelatin-modified artificial CSF replacement (Group 5) – capillary filling in both grey matter and white matter are clearly demonstrated by good fluorescein signal, albeit slightly less than that of Group 2, indicating some preservation of blood perfusion.