Study of neurovascular coupling by using mesoscopic and microscopic imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is critical for brain function, linking neuronal activity to cerebral blood flow.
• Disruptions in NVC are implicated in various neuropathologies, necessitating detailed study.
• High spatiotemporal resolution imaging across multiple scales is required for a comprehensive understanding of NVC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply concurrent multi-contrast mesoscopic and two-photon microscopic imaging for studying neurovascular dynamics.
• To investigate the spatiotemporal correlation between neuronal and vascular responses in live mice.
• To explore the impact of different brain states on NVC at regional and microvascular levels.

Main Methods:

• Concurrent multi-contrast mesoscopic and two-photon microscopy in live mouse cortices.
• Simultaneous imaging of neuronal and vascular signals.
• Investigation of sensory-evoked responses in the auditory cortex.
• Analysis of NVC across different brain states (e.g., anesthesia, sedation).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in NVC were observed at regional and microvascular levels.
• Distinct effects of various brain states on NVC were identified.
• Anesthesia and sedation were found to cause spatiotemporal disruption of NVC in large cortical networks.

Conclusions:

• Brain states profoundly influence neurovascular coupling dynamics.
• Anesthesia and sedation disrupt NVC, potentially affecting brain function and interpretation of experimental results.
• The developed imaging approach provides novel insights into NVC across multiple scales and brain states.