Microbubbles have been reported to enhance ultrasound (US)-related side effects in animal systems. The present study investigated the influence of contrast ultrasonography (US) with @entity16681 lipid microspheres, a recently developed second-generation contrast agent, on microvessels. @entity35 mesentery was exposed to 1.8-MHz pulsed US with intravenous injection of @entity16681 (0.1 or 1.0 ml/kg) or Levovist (300 mg/kg), and the microvessel @entity548 and endothelial cell injury was examined. Impaired endothelial cells were identified by the fluorescence of @entity2667 . Microvessel @entity548 was examined also in the @entity35 myocardium. The interaction between 0.1 ml/kg of @entity16681 and US exposure did not cause microvessel @entity548 , and did not increase endothelial cell injury compared with the sham operation, unless frequent, strong US exposure occurred. When the dose was increased to 1.0 ml/kg, the combination of @entity16681 and US exposure resulted in @entity548 and increased endothelial cell injury in capillaries and venules (p<0.01). However, the incidence of microvessel @entity548 and endothelial cell injury did not exceed that with Levovist microbubbles. In the myocardium, microvessel @entity548 was not observed under any conditions. In conclusion, @entity16681 lipid microspheres enhanced US-related microvessel injury as with other contrast agents at the dose of 1.0 ml/kg, but not with 0.1 ml/kg and the appropriate US setting.

Influence of contrast ultrasonography with XXXX lipid microspheres on microvessel injury.

@entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat', 'Rat'] @entity16681 :: ('MESH:C042852', 'Chemical') :: ['perflutren'] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['bleeding', 'capillary bleeding'] @entity2667 :: ('MESH:D011419', 'Chemical') :: ['propidium iodide']
@entity16681 :: (MESH:C042852,Chemical) :: ['perflutren']
