IVM of the ear vasculature in VE-cadherin-Cre × RFP mice. Intravital confocal imaging was performed in the dorsal ear skin of anesthetized VE-cadherin × RFP mice. (A-B) Image stack visualizing RFP-positive blood vessels (BV), LVs (LV) and leukocytes (Leu) in panel A the lower dermis; in panel B the upper and lower dermis (z-dimension: 39 μm). Scale bars: 100 μm. (C-E) Split view of 1 layer in panel C the epidermis, containing many RFP⁺ cells, which presumably were Langerhans cells (LC); (D) the upper dermis containing many BVs organized around hair follicles (HF); and (E) the lower dermis containing the highest density in LVs. Scale bars: 100 μm. The number in the top-right corner indicates the distance to the epidermis. (F) Intravenously injected FITC-dextran (2000 kDa) only colocalized with RFP⁺ structures that were morphologically identified as blood vessels. In contrast, presumed LVs did not take up FITC-dextran. Scale bars: 100 μm. Gamma corrections were applied to panels A through E and red channel of panel F to enhance visibility of LVs.