High-Resolution Quantitative Reconstruction of Microvascular Architectures in Mouse Hepatocellular Carcinoma Models

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Imaging
• Cancer Biology

Background:

• Liver vascularization is crucial in liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but is not well understood.
• Alterations in liver blood vessels are implicated in disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a hepatic microvascular imaging method.
• To provide high-resolution quantitative anatomical data on liver vasculature in normal and HCC mouse models.

Main Methods:

• Induced HCC in C57BL/6 mice using Akt/Ras or Sleeping Beauty transposon.
• Performed histological staining (H&E, Masson's trichrome, Ki67, LYVE-1).
• Utilized high-definition fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography for 3D microvascular visualization.

Main Results:

• HCC microvasculature showed twisted, disordered, and compressed vessels.
• Hepatic artery encircled tumors; portal vein entered centrally.
• Reduced porosity in HCC and cirrhotic tissues compared to normal.
• Increased central vessel radii and decreased sinusoid density in paratumoral cirrhotic tissues.

Conclusions:

• The study enhances understanding of normal liver microvasculature and its changes in cirrhosis and HCC.
• The 3D imaging approach offers insights into liver morphology and physiology.
• This method is applicable to multiscale studies of liver diseases.