Intravital microscopy in a dorsal skinfold chamber: hemodynamics, tumor angiogenesis and inflammation

We review the dorsal skinfold chamber technique as used in microvascular studies, focusing on hemodynamics, tumor angiogenesis and inflammation. We discuss dorsal skinfold chamber implantation, intravital microscopy and microvascular visualization. Implications of vascular diameter, blood flow velocity and functional capillary density are discussed in the context of pathological models, such as resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock and acute anemia. We also review the process of dynamic vascularization of tumor angiogenesis. We further discuss oxygen and nitric oxide transports, as well as platelet activation and inflammation during the wound healing process.