Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025
Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases
Published on: December 6, 2016
Near-lifespan longitudinal tracking of brain microvascular morphology, topology, and flow in male mice
Konrad W Walek1, Sabina Stefan2, Jang-Hoon Lee2
1Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
Abstract:
In age-related neurodegenerative diseases, pathology often develops slowly across the lifespan. As one example, in diseases such as Alzheimer's, vascular decline is believed to onset decades ahead of symptomology. However, challenges inherent in current microscopic methods make longitudinal tracking of such vascular decline difficult. Here, we describe a suite of methods for measuring brain vascular dynamics and anatomy in mice for over seven months in the same field of view. This approach is enabled by advances in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and image processing algorithms including deep learning. These integrated methods enabled us to simultaneously monitor distinct vascular properties spanning morphology, topology, and function of the microvasculature across all scales: large pial vessels, penetrating cortical vessels, and capillaries. We have demonstrated this technical capability in wild-type and 3xTg male mice. The capability will allow comprehensive and longitudinal study of a broad range of progressive vascular diseases, and normal aging, in key model systems.
Insights
Researchers developed advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) methods for long-term brain vascular tracking in mice. This enables detailed study of age-related neurodegenerative diseases and normal aging processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Age-related neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, involve slow, lifelong pathology, with vascular decline preceding symptoms.
- Current microscopic techniques struggle with longitudinal tracking of brain vascular changes over extended periods.
- Understanding early vascular changes is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, long-term imaging approach for studying brain vascular dynamics and anatomy in mice.
- To enable simultaneous monitoring of microvasculature morphology, topology, and function across multiple scales.
- To provide a tool for comprehensive, longitudinal investigation of vascular contributions to aging and neurodegeneration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in vivo imaging of mouse brains over seven months.
- Integrated sophisticated image processing algorithms, including deep learning, to analyze vascular data.
- Applied the methods to track vascular changes in the same field of view longitudinally.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated a robust method for longitudinal brain vascular monitoring in mice over seven months.
- Enabled simultaneous assessment of large pial vessels, cortical penetrating vessels, and capillaries.
- Validated the technique in both wild-type and 3xTg mouse models.
Conclusions:
- The developed OCT-based suite of methods offers unprecedented capability for longitudinal study of brain vascular health.
- This technology facilitates comprehensive research into progressive vascular diseases and normal aging in preclinical models.
- The approach is poised to advance our understanding of the vascular underpinnings of neurodegeneration.
