Ritsuko YAMADA^{1, 2}, Sei-ichi YAMADA^{1, 2}

¹Department of Ophthalmology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, ²Department of Medical Zoology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Medicine

キーワード : Central retinal artery , External ophthalmic artery , Pulsed Doppler method , Rabbit, Velocimetry

We performed quantitative assessment of the blood flow velocity and spectrum analysis of the eyes of Dutch rabbits by using a color Doppler unit, SSA-260A (Toshiba, Tokyo, Japan). Peak systolic, diastolic, and mean blood flow velocities of the central retinal artery, the external ophthalmic artery, and the short posterior ciliary artery were examined. The results obtained confirm the reproducibility that Doppler ultrasound affords. This information will clarify, without anesthesia and mydriasis, the ocular hemodynamics of various experimental disorders in rabbits, allowing for comparison with humans. The Doppler technique provides information on circulatory changes, even in patients with vitreous opacity, mature cataract, or severe posterior synechia. Experimental use of this technique may provide quantitative information on blood flow velocity in animals with various experimental ocular disorders and prove useful in evaluating the efficiency of treatments.