The effect of aminolaevulinic acid-induced, protoporphyrin IX-mediated photodynamic therapy on the cremaster muscle microcirculation in vivo

The effect of photodynamic therapy on normal striated muscle was investigated using 30 adult male rats. Animals were divided into six groups. Three control groups received phosphate-buffered saline by gavage and violet light at 105, 178 and 300 mW cm-2 respectively. Three experimental groups received aminolaevulinic acid (ALA; 200 mg kg-1) and violet light at 105, 178 and 300 mW cm-2 respectively. After exposure of the cremaster muscle animals were allowed to equilibrate and vessel diameters and bloodflow assessed. Following photoactivation measurements were taken every 10 min over a 2 h period. Photoactivation of experimental groups at the two higher power densities resulted in an initial decrease in both arteriolar and venular diameters, and a concomitant decrease in blood flow. The magnitude of these changes and the degree of recovery by the end of the observation period was related to power density. No effects were observed in the control groups. These results suggest that microcirculatory damage may contribute to the mechanism of action of photodynamic therapy with ALA.