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Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Detects Anatomical and Functional Changes in Rat Cervical Spine Microvasculature
Jennifer N Harmon1, Preeja Chandran1, Abarajithan Chandrasekaran1
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Summary
Aging causes spinal cord vascular changes, including increased tortuosity and reduced blood volume. Aged rats showed no functional hyperemia under hypoxia, unlike younger rats, indicating impaired vascular response.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Normal aging leads to cerebrovascular changes, increasing susceptibility to injury.
- Spinal cord vascular aging is understudied compared to the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in cervical spinal vascular anatomy and hemodynamics in rats.
- To compare vascular function and response to hypoxia between adult and aged rats.
Main Methods:
- Utilized contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging in adult and aged male Fisher 344 rats.
- Assessed spinal artery tortuosity, vascular resistance, and blood volume.
- Evaluated functional hyperemia during hypoxia challenge and performed immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- Aged rats exhibited significantly increased anterior spinal artery tortuosity and elevated vascular resistance.
- Reduced baseline blood volume in larger vessels and microcirculation (white matter) was observed in aged rats.
- Aged rats showed no functional hyperemia response to hypoxia, unlike adults, with reduced pericyte coverage and activated microglia.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first in vivo description of age-related hemodynamic differences in the cervical spinal cord.
- Aging impairs spinal cord vascular structure and function, potentially increasing vulnerability to ischemic injury.
- Reduced pericyte coverage and microglial activation may contribute to the blunted vascular response in aged rats.
