Figure 2.

Functional images of the same capillary bed in the extensor digitorum longus muscle of the rat at 2.5 and 3.5 hours after induction of a peritonitis model of sepsis (cecal ligation and perforation [CLP]). The functional images were generated from captured video sequences (30 seconds) and show those capillaries through which red blood cells were flowing. At 2.5 hours after CLP, most capillaries in the field of view are perfused. One hour later, individual capillary segments from within the capillary network no longer have red blood cell flow, indicating the rapid progression of the remote injury to the microvasculature of this muscle. The procedure used for generating functional (variance) images was described by Japee et al. [70].