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Since their original description, perfusion
techniques have been most helpful in the understanding
of the basic roles of plasma adhesive proteins and platelet
membrane glycoproteins in adhesion and aggregation of
platelets onto damaged vessel wall. Moreover, perfusion
models, either in annular or flat chambers provide an
useful tool to test the effects of antiplatelet drugs
on platelet adhesive and cohesive functions. The main
objective of perfusion devices is to maintain a laminar
flow thus simulating conditions that can be found in
the bloodstream.
- Annular Chamber Perfusion System:
in the original technique, anticoagulated blood is
recirculated through an annular tube of plexiglas
that contains an everted rabbit aorta segment previously
denuded of endothelium. Using morphological criteria,
the adhesive and cohesive function could be differentiated
and quantified by means of morphometric procedures.
- Flat Chamber Perfusion System:
also known as parallel chamber, basically it consists
of two parallel plates of plexiglas limiting an internal
rectangular channel. One of the plates has been devised
to adapt one or two coverslips that can be coated
with purified proteins or extracellular matrices produced
by cells in culture. Blood circulating through the
internal channel interacts with the coating of the
coverslip.
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