In vivo imaging of the mouse neurovascular unit under chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

Kenichiro Yata, Yuhei Nishimura, Miyuki Unekawa, Yutaka Tomita, Norihiro Suzuki, Toshio Tanaka, Akira Mizoguchi, Hidekazu Tomimoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and Purpose - Proper brain function is maintained by an integrated system called the neurovascular unit (NVU) comprised cellular and acellular elements. Although the individual features of specific neurovascular components are understood, it is unknown how they respond to ischemic stress as a functional unit. Therefore, we established an in vivo imaging method and clarified the NVU response to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Methods - Green mice (b-act-EGFP) with SR101 plasma labeling were used in this experiment. A closed cranial window was made over the left somatosensory cortex. To mimic chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery stenosis operations using microcoils. In vivo real-time imaging was performed using 2-photon laser-scanning microscopy during the preoperative period, and after 1 day and 1 and 2 weeks of bilateral common carotid artery stenosis or sham operations.

Results - Our method allowed 3-dimensional observation of most of the components of the NVU, as well as dynamic capillary microcirculation. Under chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, we did not detect any structural changes of each cellular component in the NVU; however, impairment of microcirculation was detected over a prolonged period. In the pial small arteries and veins, rolling and adhesion of leukocyte were detected, more prominently in the latter. In the deep cortical capillaries, flow stagnation because of leukocyte plugging was frequently observed.

Conclusions - We established an in vivo imaging method for real-time visualization of the NVU. It seems that under chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, leukocyte activation has a critical role in microcirculation disturbance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3698-3703
Number of pages6
JournalStroke
Volume45
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Dec 11
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Astrocytes
  • Leukocytes
  • Microcirculation
  • Microscopy, fluorescence, multiphoton
  • Pericytes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Advanced and Specialised Nursing

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