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Published on: July 29, 2019
Label-free in vivo optical imaging of functional microcirculations within meninges and cortex in mice
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Abstract:
Abnormal microcirculation within meninges is common in many neurological diseases. There is a need for an imaging method that is capable of monitoring dynamic meningeal microcirculations, preferably decoupled from cortical blood flow. Optical microangiography (OMAG) is a recently developed label-free imaging method capable of producing 3D images of dynamic blood perfusion within micro-circulatory tissue beds at an imaging depth up to ∼2 mm, with an unprecedented imaging sensitivity to blood flow at ∼4 microm/s. In this paper, we demonstrate the utility of OMAG in imaging the detailed blood flow distributions, at a capillary level resolution, within the meninges and cortex in mice with the cranium left intact. Using a thrombotic mouse model, we show that the OMAG can yield longitudinal measurements of meningeal vascular responses to the insult and can decouple these responses from those in the cortex, giving valuable information regarding the localized hemodynamics along with the dynamic formation of thrombotic event. The results indicate that OMAG can be a useful tool to study therapeutic strategies in preclinical animal models in order to mitigate various pathologies that are mainly related to the meningeal circulations.
Insights
Optical microangiography (OMAG) images dynamic meningeal microcirculation in mice, decoupling it from cortical blood flow. This method aids in studying neurological diseases and therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Abnormal meningeal microcirculation is implicated in various neurological diseases.
- Current imaging methods struggle to monitor dynamic meningeal microcirculation independently of cortical blood flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of Optical Microangiography (OMAG) for imaging dynamic meningeal microcirculation.
- To assess OMAG's ability to decouple meningeal and cortical blood flow.
- To evaluate OMAG in a preclinical model of thrombotic events.
Main Methods:
- Utilized label-free Optical Microangiography (OMAG) for 3D imaging of microcirculation.
- Imaged intact mouse craniums to visualize meningeal and cortical blood flow.
- Employed a thrombotic mouse model to induce and monitor vascular responses.
Main Results:
- OMAG successfully imaged detailed, capillary-level blood flow in mouse meninges and cortex.
- Longitudinal measurements revealed meningeal vascular responses to thrombotic insult.
- OMAG effectively decoupled meningeal responses from cortical blood flow changes.
- The method provided insights into localized hemodynamics and thrombotic event formation.
Conclusions:
- OMAG is a valuable tool for studying dynamic meningeal microcirculation in vivo.
- This technique can differentiate meningeal and cortical vascular dynamics.
- OMAG shows promise for evaluating therapeutic strategies targeting meningeal pathologies in preclinical models.
