Intravital microscopy of the mouse brain microcirculation using a closed cranial window

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Microcirculation Research

Background:

• Assessing mouse pial microcirculation is crucial for understanding brain pathophysiology.
• Existing methods have limitations in real-time, dynamic observation of microcirculatory changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an experimental model for in vivo assessment of mouse pial microcirculation.
• To investigate microcirculatory alterations during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a closed cranial window technique for repeated intravital fluorescence microscopy.
• Measured vessel diameter, red blood cell (RBC) velocity, leukocyte/platelet adherence, and vascular leakage.
• Employed fluorescent markers (Albumin-FITC, anti-CD45-TxR) and labeled RBCs.

Main Results:

• The model successfully captured dynamic changes in pial microcirculation over several days.
• Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection led to significant microcirculatory dysfunction.
• Observed vasoconstriction, decreased blood flow, and vascular collapse associated with cerebral malaria (CM).

Conclusions:

• The developed closed window brain intravital microscopy is effective for studying dynamic microcirculation.
• Cerebral malaria is strongly associated with severe microcirculatory dysfunctions in mice.
• This model provides a valuable tool for investigating neuroinflammatory and hemodynamic changes in brain diseases.