Evaluation of laser-speckle contrast image analysis techniques in the cortical microcirculation of piglets

A new laser speckle-contrast analysis (LASCA) technique based on multi-exposure imaging was employed to simultaneously study pial arteriolar responses with cerebrocortical perfusion changes to various vasodilator (5–10% CO2 ventilation, bradykinin (1–10μM), N-methyl-d-aspartate (100μM)) vasoconstrictor (10–100μM noradrenaline, 1M KCl), or neutral (2.1% H2 ventilation) stimuli as well as to asphyxia in the newborn piglet. Anesthetized, ventilated animals (n=20) were fitted with closed cranial windows. Multiple exposure laser-speckle image series (1–100ms) were obtained using a near infrared diode laser (λ=808nm). The autocorrelation decay time (τ) of speckle fluctuations was determined over pial arterioles and parenchymal areas to express 1/τ being proportional to blood flow velocity by two different LASCA techniques: our novel multi-exposure or a single exposure (2 and 20ms) approach. 1/τ values yielded by different LASCA techniques were not significantly different at most points. LASCA easily detected both increases and decreases in cortical blood flow (CoBF). Cortical 1/τ changes to hypercapnia closely matched quantitative CoBF data determined previously, and were also in accordance with increases of pial arteriolar blood flow, calculated from arteriolar flow velocity and cross sectional area changes. In summary, LASCA emerges as an appealing method to simultaneously study microvascular reactivity and cortical perfusion changes in the piglet. ► The cortical microcirculation was studied via closed cranial window in piglets. ► A novel laser-speckle image analysis (LASCA) technique was applied successfully. ► LASCA reveals perfusion changes matching previous quantitative data. ► LASCA appears to be more reliable than laser-Doppler flowmetry in piglets. ► Pial arterioles are major regulators of local blood flow in this neonatal model.