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Salg GA, Steinle V, Labode J, Wagner W, Studier-Fischer A, Reiser J, Farjallah E, Guettlein M, Albers J, Hilgenfeld T, Giese NA, Stiller W, Nickel F, Loos M, Michalski CW, Kauczor HU, Hackert T, Dullin C, Mayer P, Kenngott HG. Multiscale and multimodal imaging for three-dimensional vascular and histomorphological organ structure analysis of the pancreas. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10136. [PMID: 38698049 PMCID: PMC11065985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60254-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Exocrine and endocrine pancreas are interconnected anatomically and functionally, with vasculature facilitating bidirectional communication. Our understanding of this network remains limited, largely due to two-dimensional histology and missing combination with three-dimensional imaging. In this study, a multiscale 3D-imaging process was used to analyze a porcine pancreas. Clinical computed tomography, digital volume tomography, micro-computed tomography and Synchrotron-based propagation-based imaging were applied consecutively. Fields of view correlated inversely with attainable resolution from a whole organism level down to capillary structures with a voxel edge length of 2.0 µm. Segmented vascular networks from 3D-imaging data were correlated with tissue sections stained by immunohistochemistry and revealed highly vascularized regions to be intra-islet capillaries of islets of Langerhans. Generated 3D-datasets allowed for three-dimensional qualitative and quantitative organ and vessel structure analysis. Beyond this study, the method shows potential for application across a wide range of patho-morphology analyses and might possibly provide microstructural blueprints for biotissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Alexander Salg
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Verena Steinle
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Labode
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Willi Wagner
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Studier-Fischer
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johanna Reiser
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elyes Farjallah
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michelle Guettlein
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Albers
- Hamburg Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY Hamburg, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tim Hilgenfeld
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nathalia A Giese
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfram Stiller
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Nickel
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Loos
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph W Michalski
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Kauczor
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thilo Hackert
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, Goettingen, Germany
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Mayer
- Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hannes Goetz Kenngott
- Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Zhao J, Lai HM, Qi Y, He D, Sun H. Current Status of Tissue Clearing and the Path Forward in Neuroscience. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:5-29. [PMID: 33326739 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the complexity and limited availability of human brain tissues, for decades, pathologists have sought to maximize information gained from individual samples, based on which (patho)physiological processes could be inferred. Recently, new understandings of chemical and physical properties of biological tissues and multiple chemical profiling have given rise to the development of scalable tissue clearing methods allowing superior optical clearing of across-the-scale samples. In the past decade, tissue clearing techniques, molecular labeling methods, advanced laser scanning microscopes, and data visualization and analysis have become commonplace. Combined, they have made 3D visualization of brain tissues with unprecedented resolution and depth widely accessible. To facilitate further advancements and applications, here we provide a critical appraisal of these techniques. We propose a classification system of current tissue clearing and expansion methods that allows users to judge the applicability of individual ones to their questions, followed by a review of the current progress in molecular labeling, optical imaging, and data processing to demonstrate the whole 3D imaging pipeline based on tissue clearing and downstream techniques for visualizing the brain. We also raise the path forward of tissue-clearing-based imaging technology, that is, integrating with state-of-the-art techniques, such as multiplexing protein imaging, in situ signal amplification, RNA detection and sequencing, super-resolution imaging techniques, multiomics studies, and deep learning, for drawing the complete atlas of the human brain and building a 3D pathology platform for central nervous system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hei Ming Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuwei Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Dian He
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Haitao Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Biobank Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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3
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Campbell-Thompson M, Tang SC. Pancreas Optical Clearing and 3-D Microscopy in Health and Diabetes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:644826. [PMID: 33981285 PMCID: PMC8108133 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.644826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although first described over a hundred years ago, tissue optical clearing is undergoing renewed interest due to numerous advances in optical clearing methods, microscopy systems, and three-dimensional (3-D) image analysis programs. These advances are advantageous for intact mouse tissues or pieces of human tissues because samples sized several millimeters can be studied. Optical clearing methods are particularly useful for studies of the neuroanatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems and tissue vasculature or lymphatic system. Using examples from solvent- and aqueous-based optical clearing methods, the mouse and human pancreatic structures and networks will be reviewed in 3-D for neuro-insular complexes, parasympathetic ganglia, and adipocyte infiltration as well as lymphatics in diabetes. Optical clearing with multiplex immunofluorescence microscopy provides new opportunities to examine the role of the nervous and circulatory systems in pancreatic and islet functions by defining their neurovascular anatomy in health and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Campbell-Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Martha Campbell-Thompson, ; Shiue-Cheng Tang,
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Department of Medical Science and Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Martha Campbell-Thompson, ; Shiue-Cheng Tang,
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Lipophilic dye-compatible brain clearing technique allowing correlative magnetic resonance/high-resolution fluorescence imaging in rat models of glioblastoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17974. [PMID: 33087842 PMCID: PMC7578790 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75137-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work we optimized a novel approach for combining in vivo MRI and ex vivo high-resolution fluorescence microscopy that involves: (i) a method for slicing rat brain tissue into sections with the same thickness and spatial orientation as in in vivo MRI, to better correlate in vivo MRI analyses with ex-vivo imaging via scanning confocal microscope and (ii) an improved clearing protocol compatible with lipophilic dyes that highlight the neurovascular network, to obtain high tissue transparency while preserving tissue staining and morphology with no significant tissue shrinkage or expansion. We applied this methodology in two rat models of glioblastoma (GBM; U87 human glioma cells and patient-derived human glioblastoma cancer stem cells) to demonstrate how vital the information retrieved from the correlation between MRI and confocal images is and to highlight how the increased invasiveness of xenografts derived from cancer stem cells may not be clearly detected by standard in vivo MRI approaches. The protocol studied in this work could be implemented in pre-clinical GBM research to further the development and validation of more predictive and translatable MR imaging protocols that can be used as critical diagnostic and prognostic tools. The development of this protocol is part of the quest for more efficacious treatment approaches for this devastating and still uncurable disease. In particular, this approach could be instrumental in validating novel MRI-based techniques to assess cellular infiltration beyond the macroscopic tumor margins and to quantify neo-angiogenesis.
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Hong SM, Noë M, Hruban CA, Thompson ED, Wood LD, Hruban RH. A "Clearer" View of Pancreatic Pathology: A Review of Tissue Clearing and Advanced Microscopy Techniques. Adv Anat Pathol 2019; 26:31-39. [PMID: 30256228 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Although pathologic lesions in the pancreas are 3-dimensional (3D) complex structures, we currently use thin 2D hematoxylin and eosin stained slides to study and diagnose pancreatic pathology. Two technologies, tissue clearing and advanced microscopy, have recently converged, and when used together they open the remarkable world of 3D anatomy and pathology to pathologists. Advances in tissue clearing and antibody penetration now make even dense fibrotic tissues amenable to clearing, and light sheet and confocal microscopies allow labeled cells deep within these cleared tissues to be visualized. Clearing techniques can be categorized as solvent-based or aqueous-based techniques, but both clearing methods consist of 4 fundamental steps, including pretreatment of specimens, permeabilization and/or removal of lipid, immunolabeling with antibody penetration, and clearing by refractive index matching. Specialized microscopes, including the light sheet microscope, the 2-photon microscope, and the confocal microscope, can then be used to visualize and evaluate the 3D histology. Both endocrine and exocrine pancreas pathology can then be visualized. The application of labeling and clearing to surgically resected human pancreatic parenchyma can provide detailed visualization of the complexities of normal pancreatic anatomy. It also can be used to characterize the 3D architecture of disease processes ranging from precursor lesions, such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, to infiltrating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. The evaluation of 3D histopathology, including pathology of the pancreatic lesions, will provide new insights into lesions that previously were seen, and thought of, only in 2 dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Mo Hong
- Departments of Pathology
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Michaël Noë
- Departments of Pathology
- Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
| | - Carolyn A Hruban
- Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Laura D Wood
- Departments of Pathology
- Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ralph H Hruban
- Departments of Pathology
- Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
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6
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Nishimura W, Sakaue-Sawano A, Takahashi S, Miyawaki A, Yasuda K, Noda Y. Optical clearing of the pancreas for visualization of mature β-cells and vessels in mice. Islets 2018; 10:e1451282. [PMID: 29617192 PMCID: PMC5989882 DOI: 10.1080/19382014.2018.1451282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucose metabolism is regulated by insulin, which is produced from β-cells in the pancreas. Because insulin is secreted into vessels in response to blood glucose, vascular structures of the pancreas, especially the relationship between vessels and β-cells, are important for physiological and pathological glucose metabolism. Here, we developed a system to visualize vessels surrounding mature β-cells expressing transcription factor MafA in a three-dimensional manner. Optical clearing of the pancreas prevented light scattering of fluorescence driven by the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-mafA promoter in β-cells. Reconstruction of confocal images demonstrated mature β-cells and the glomerular-like structures of β-cell vasculatures labeled with DyLight 488-conjugated lectin in normal mice as well as in low-dose streptozotocin-injected diabetes model mice with reduced β-cell mass. This technological innovation of organ imaging can be used to investigate morphological changes in vascular structures during transplantation, regeneration and diabetes development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Nishimura
- Department of Molecular Biology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita, Chiba, Japan
- Division of Anatomy, Bio-imaging and Neuro-cell Science, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
- Department of Metabolic Disorder, Diabetes Research Center, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
- CONTACT Wataru Nishimura Department of Molecular Biology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita, Chiba, Japan
| | - Asako Sakaue-Sawano
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, Brain Science Institute, Wako City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyawaki
- Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics, Brain Science Institute, Wako City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kazuki Yasuda
- Department of Metabolic Disorder, Diabetes Research Center, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuko Noda
- Division of Anatomy, Bio-imaging and Neuro-cell Science, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
- CONTACT Yasuko Noda Division of Anatomy, Bio-imaging and Neuro-cell Science, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
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Matsuzawa T, Yoshikawa T, Iida T, Kárpáti A, Kitano H, Harada R, Nakamura T, Sugawara A, Yamaguchi Y, Yanai K. Heparan sulfate in pancreatic β-cells contributes to normal glucose homeostasis by regulating insulin secretion. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 499:688-695. [PMID: 29605295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.03.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Heparan sulfate (HS), a linear polysaccharide, is involved in diverse biological functions of various tissues. HS is expressed in pancreatic β-cells and may be involved in β-cell functions. However, the importance of HS for β-cell function remains unknown. Here, we generated mice with β-cell-specific deletion of Ext1 (βExt1CKO), which encodes an enzyme essential for HS synthesis, to investigate the detailed roles of HS in β-cell function. βExt1CKO mice decreased body weights compared with control mice, despite increased food intake. Additionally, βExt1CKO mice showed impaired glucose tolerance associated with decreased insulin secretion upon glucose challenge. Glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS) from isolated βExt1CKO islets was also significantly reduced, highlighting the contribution of HS to insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. The gene expression essential for GIIS was decreased in βExt1CKO islets. Pdx1 and MafA were downregulated in βExt1CKO islets, indicating that HS promoted β-cell development and maturation. BrdU- or Ki67-positive β-cells were reduced in βExt1CKO pancreatic sections, suggesting the involvement of HS in the proliferation of β-cells. Moreover, insufficient vascularization in βExt1CKO islets may contribute to central distribution of α-cells. These data demonstrate HS plays diverse roles in β-cells, and that loss of HS leads to insufficient insulin secretion and dysregulation of glucose homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Matsuzawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takeo Yoshikawa
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Tomomitsu Iida
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Anikó Kárpáti
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Haruna Kitano
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Harada
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tadaho Nakamura
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Division of Pharmacology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Faculty of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akira Sugawara
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yu Yamaguchi
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kazuhiko Yanai
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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8
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Tang SC, Shen CN, Lin PY, Peng SJ, Chien HJ, Chou YH, Chamberlain CE, Pasricha PJ. Pancreatic neuro-insular network in young mice revealed by 3D panoramic histology. Diabetologia 2018; 61:158-167. [PMID: 28864913 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-017-4408-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS It has been proposed that the neuro-insular network enables rapid, synchronised insulin secretion. However, to date, acquiring the pancreatic tissue map to study the neural network remains a challenging task as there is a lack of feasible approaches for large-scale tissue analysis at the organ level. Here, we have developed 3-dimensional (3D) panoramic histology to characterise the pancreatic neuro-insular network in young mice. METHODS Pancreases harvested from young wild-type B6 mice (3 and 8 weeks old) and db/db mice (3 weeks old; db/db vs db/+) were used to develop 3D panoramic histology. Transparent pancreases were prepared by optical clearing to enable deep-tissue, tile-scanning microscopy for qualitative and quantitative analyses of islets and the pancreatic tissue network in space. RESULTS 3D panoramic histology reveals the pancreatic neurovascular network and the coupling of ganglionic and islet populations via the network. This integration is identified in both 3- and 8-week-old mice, featuring the peri-arteriolar neuro-insular network and islet-ganglionic aggregation. In weaning hyperphagic db/db mice, the 3D image data identifies the associated increases in weight, adipose tissue attached to the pancreas, density of large islets (major axis > 150 μm) and pancreatic sympathetic innervation compared with db/+ mice. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our work provides insight into the neuro-insular integration at the organ level and demonstrates a new approach for investigating previously unknown details of the pancreatic tissue network in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Rd, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Ning Shen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Pei-Yu Lin
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jen Chien
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hsien Chou
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | | | - Pankaj J Pasricha
- Johns Hopkins Center for Neurogastroenterology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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9
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Pénicaud L. Autonomic nervous system and pancreatic islet blood flow. Biochimie 2017; 143:29-32. [PMID: 29017926 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Vascularization and innervation of the islet of Langerhans are highly interconnected and are critical for intercellular and intertissular communication. They are both involved in the control of islet blood flow which has been shown to have an important role in the control of endocine secretion. Both parameters are disturbed during the course of metabolic pathologies and particularly diabetes. A better understanding of these mechanisms has and will greatly benefit from the rapidly-emerging technologies particularly in vivo imaging enabling to study both anatomy and functions of the islet.
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10
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Berclaz C, Szlag D, Nguyen D, Extermann J, Bouwens A, Marchand PJ, Nilsson J, Schmidt-Christensen A, Holmberg D, Grapin-Botton A, Lasser T. Label-free fast 3D coherent imaging reveals pancreatic islet micro-vascularization and dynamic blood flow. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2016; 7:4569-4580. [PMID: 27895996 PMCID: PMC5119596 DOI: 10.1364/boe.7.004569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In diabetes, pancreatic β-cells play a key role. These cells are clustered within structures called islets of Langerhans inside the pancreas and produce insulin, which is directly secreted into the blood stream. The dense vascularization of islets of Langerhans is critical for maintaining a proper regulation of blood glucose homeostasis and is known to be affected from the early stage of diabetes. The deep localization of these islets inside the pancreas in the abdominal cavity renders their in vivo visualization a challenging task. A fast label-free imaging method with high spatial resolution is required to study the vascular network of islets of Langerhans. Based on these requirements, we developed a label-free and three-dimensional imaging method for observing islets of Langerhans using extended-focus Fourier domain Optical Coherence Microscopy (xfOCM). In addition to structural imaging, this system provides three-dimensional vascular network imaging and dynamic blood flow information within islets of Langerhans. We propose our method to deepen the understanding of the interconnection between diabetes and the evolution of the islet vascular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Berclaz
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
| | - Daniel Szlag
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
| | - David Nguyen
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Extermann
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
- Hepia, University of Applied Science of Western Switzerland, 1202 Genève,
Switzerland
| | - Arno Bouwens
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
| | - Paul J. Marchand
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
| | | | | | - Dan Holmberg
- EMV Immunology, Lund University, 22100 Lund,
Sweden
| | | | - Theo Lasser
- Laboratoire d’Optique Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),1015 Lausanne,
Switzerland
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Lin PY, Peng SJ, Shen CN, Pasricha PJ, Tang SC. PanIN-associated pericyte, glial, and islet remodeling in mice revealed by 3D pancreatic duct lesion histology. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2016; 311:G412-22. [PMID: 27340125 PMCID: PMC6347070 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00071.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Pericytes and glial cells are accessory cells of neurovascular networks, which have been reported to participate in scar formation after tissue injury. However, it remains unclear whether similar reactive cellular responses occur in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). In this study we developed three-dimensional (3D) duct lesion histology to investigate PanIN and the associated pericyte, glial, and islet remodeling. Transparent mouse pancreata with a Kras(G12D) mutation were used to develop 3D duct lesion histology. Deep-tissue, tile-scanning microscopy was performed to generate panoramic views of the diseased pancreas for global examination of early stage and advanced duct lesion formation. Fluorescence signals of ductal and neurovascular networks were simultaneously detected to reveal associated remodeling. Significantly, in Kras(G12D)-mutant mice, when the low-grade PanINs emerge, duct lesions appear as epithelial buds with perilesional pericyte and glial activation. When PanINs occur in large scale (induced by cerulein injections to the mutant mice), the 3D image data identifies 1) aggregation of PanINs in clusters in space; 2) overexpression of the pericyte marker NG2 in the PanIN microenvironment; and 3) epithelial in-growth to islets, forming the PanIN-islet complexes. Particularly, the PanIN-islet complexes associate with proliferating epithelial and stromal cells and receive substantial neurovascular supplies, making them landmarks in the atrophic lobe. Overall, perilesional pericyte and glial activation and formation of the PanIN-islet complex underline cellular heterogeneity in the duct lesion microenvironment. The results also illustrate the advantage of using 3D histology to reveal previously unknown details of neurovascular and endocrine links to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yu Lin
- 1Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; ,2Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- 3Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; ,4Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; and
| | - Chia-Ning Shen
- 1Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; ,2Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan;
| | - Pankaj J. Pasricha
- 5Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; and
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12
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3-D imaging of islets in obesity: formation of the islet-duct complex and neurovascular remodeling in young hyperphagic mice. Int J Obes (Lond) 2015; 40:685-97. [PMID: 26499436 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity and insulin resistance lead to islet hyperplasia. However, how the islet remodeling influences the pancreatic environment and the associated neurovascular networks is largely unknown. The lack of information is primarily due to the difficulty of global visualization of the hyperplasic islet (>200 μm) and the neurovascular environment with high definition. METHODS We modulated the pancreatic optical property to achieve 3-dimensional (3-D) whole-islet histology and to integrate transmitted light microscopy (which provides the ground-truth tissue information) with confocal fluorescence imaging. The new optical and imaging conditions were used to globally examine the hyperplastic islets of the young (2 months) obese db/db and ob/ob mice, which otherwise cannot be easily portrayed by the standard microtome-based histology. The voxel-based islet micrographs were digitally processed for stereo projection and qualitative and quantitative analyses of the islet tissue networks. RESULTS Paired staining and imaging of the pancreatic islets, ducts and neurovascular networks reveal the unexpected formation of the 'neuro-insular-ductal complex' in the young obese mice. The complex consists of the peri- and/or intra-islet ducts and prominent peri-ductal sympathetic nerves; the latter contributes to a marked increase in islet sympathetic innervation. In vascular characterization, we identify a decreased perivascular density of the ob/ob islet pericytes, which adapt to ensheathing the dilated microvessels with hypertrophic processes. CONCLUSIONS Modulation of pancreatic optical property enables 3-D panoramic examination of islets in the young hyperphagic mice to reveal the formation of the islet-duct complex and neurovascular remodeling. On the basis of the morphological proximity of the remodeled tissue networks, we propose a reactive islet microenvironment consisting of the endocrine cells, ductal epithelium and neurovascular tissues in response to the metabolic challenge that is experienced early in life.
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Song E, Seo H, Choe K, Hwang Y, Ahn J, Ahn S, Kim P. Optical clearing based cellular-level 3D visualization of intact lymph node cortex. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2015; 6:4154-64. [PMID: 26504662 PMCID: PMC4605071 DOI: 10.1364/boe.6.004154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 09/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Lymph node (LN) is an important immune organ that controls adaptive immune responses against foreign pathogens and abnormal cells. To facilitate efficient immune function, LN has highly organized 3D cellular structures, vascular and lymphatic system. Unfortunately, conventional histological analysis relying on thin-sliced tissue has limitations in 3D cellular analysis due to structural disruption and tissue loss in the processes of fixation and tissue slicing. Optical sectioning confocal microscopy has been utilized to analyze 3D structure of intact LN tissue without physical tissue slicing. However, light scattering within biological tissues limits the imaging depth only to superficial portion of LN cortex. Recently, optical clearing techniques have shown enhancement of imaging depth in various biological tissues, but their efficacy for LN are remained to be investigated. In this work, we established optical clearing procedure for LN and achieved 3D volumetric visualization of the whole cortex of LN. More than 4 times improvement in imaging depth was confirmed by using LN obtained from H2B-GFP/actin-DsRed double reporter transgenic mouse. With adoptive transfer of GFP expressing B cells and DsRed expressing T cells and fluorescent vascular labeling by anti-CD31 and anti-LYVE-1 antibody conjugates, we successfully visualized major cellular-level structures such as T-cell zone, B-cell follicle and germinal center. Further, we visualized the GFP expressing metastatic melanoma cell colony, vasculature and lymphatic vessels in the LN cortex.
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14
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Juang JH, Kuo CH, Peng SJ, Tang SC. 3-D Imaging Reveals Participation of Donor Islet Schwann Cells and Pericytes in Islet Transplantation and Graft Neurovascular Regeneration. EBioMedicine 2015; 2:109-19. [PMID: 26137552 PMCID: PMC4485478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 01/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary cells that participate in islet transplantation are the endocrine cells. However, in the islet microenvironment, the endocrine cells are closely associated with the neurovascular tissues consisting of the Schwann cells and pericytes, which form sheaths/barriers at the islet exterior and interior borders. The two cell types have shown their plasticity in islet injury, but their roles in transplantation remain unclear. In this research, we applied 3-dimensional neurovascular histology with cell tracing to reveal the participation of Schwann cells and pericytes in mouse islet transplantation. Longitudinal studies of the grafts under the kidney capsule identify that the donor Schwann cells and pericytes re-associate with the engrafted islets at the peri-graft and perivascular domains, respectively, indicating their adaptability in transplantation. Based on the morphological proximity and cellular reactivity, we propose that the new islet microenvironment should include the peri-graft Schwann cell sheath and perivascular pericytes as an integral part of the new tissue. 3-D neurovascular histology with cell tracing is used to study islet transplantation. Donor islet Schwann cells and pericytes participate in graft neurovascular regeneration. Islet graft microenvironment includes Schwann cell sheath and perivascular pericytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyuhn-Huarng Juang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hung Kuo
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan ; Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan ; Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan ; Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
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15
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Das R, Nguyen TM, Lim SD, O’Donnell M, Wang RK, Seibel EJ. Feasibility of a hybrid elastographic-microfluidic device to rapidly process and assess pancreatic cancer biopsies for pathologists. ... HEALTH INNOVATIONS AND POINT-OF-CARE TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE. HEALTH INNOVATIONS AND POINT-OF-CARE TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE 2014; 2014:271-275. [PMID: 26110186 PMCID: PMC4476399 DOI: 10.1109/hic.2014.7038927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this study, our collaborative research group explored the possibility of incorporating ultrasound elastography technology with a microfluidic device that is designed to prepare fine needle core biopsies (CBs; L=0.5-2.0 cm, D=0.4-1.2 mm) for pancreatic cancer diagnosis. For the first time, elastographic techniques were employed to measure shear wave velocity in fresh (3.7 m/s) and formalin-fixed (14.7 m/s) pancreatic CBs. Shear wave velocity did not vary whether fixed specimens were free on a microscope slide, or constrained within glass microfluidic channels: 11.5±1.9 v. 11.8±2.1 m/s. 4% agarose inclusions were also embedded within 1% agarose hydrogels to simulate cysts, neoplastic, or necrotic tissue within CBs. Inclusions were successfully visualized and measured using optical coherence elastography. These preliminary experiments demonstrate in a rudimentary fashion that elastographic measurements of pancreatic CBs may be incorporated with our microfluidic device. The rapid mapping of CB stiffness may provide qualitative spatial information for pathologists to determine a more accurate diagnosis for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronnie Das
- Primary appointment in UW Mechanical Engineering
| | - Thu-Mai Nguyen
- Primary appointment in UW Bioengineering, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | | | - Matt O’Donnell
- Primary appointment in UW Bioengineering, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Ruikang K. Wang
- Primary appointment in UW Bioengineering, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
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Tang SC, Peng SJ, Chien HJ. Imaging of the islet neural network. Diabetes Obes Metab 2014; 16 Suppl 1:77-86. [PMID: 25200300 DOI: 10.1111/dom.12342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The islets of Langerhans receive signals from the circulation and nerves to modulate hormone secretion in response to physiological cues. Although the rich islet innervation has been documented in the literature dating as far back as Paul Langerhans' discovery of islets in the pancreas, it remains a challenging task for researchers to acquire detailed islet innervation patterns in health and disease due to the dispersed nature of the islet neurovascular network. In this article, we discuss the recent development of 3-dimensional (3D) islet neurohistology, in which transparent pancreatic specimens were prepared by optical clearing to visualize the islet microstructure, vasculature and innervation with deep-tissue microscopy. Mouse islets were used as an example to illustrate how to apply this 3D imaging approach to characterize (i) the islet parasympathetic innervation, (ii) the islet sympathetic innervation and its reinnervation after transplantation under the kidney capsule and (iii) the reactive cellular response of the Schwann cell network in islet injury. While presenting and characterizing the innervation patterns, we also discuss how to apply the signals derived from transmitted light microscopy, vessel painting and immunostaining of neural markers to verify the location and source of tissue information. In summary, the systematic development of tissue labelling, clearing and imaging methods to reveal the islet neuroanatomy offers insights to help study the neural-islet regulatory mechanisms and the role of neural tissue remodelling in the development of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S-C Tang
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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17
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Juang JH, Peng SJ, Kuo CH, Tang SC. Three-dimensional islet graft histology: panoramic imaging of neural plasticity in sympathetic reinnervation of transplanted islets under the kidney capsule. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2014; 306:E559-70. [PMID: 24425762 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00515.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microscopic examination of transplanted islets in an ectopic environment provides information to evaluate islet engraftment, including revascularization and reinnervation. However, because of the dispersed nature of blood vessels and nerves, global visualization of the graft neurovascular network has been difficult. In this research we revealed the neurovascular network by preparing transparent mouse islet grafts under the kidney capsule with optical clearing to investigate the sympathetic reinnervation via three-dimensional confocal microscopy. Normoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were used in syngeneic islet transplantation, with both groups maintaining euglycemia after transplantation. Triple staining of insulin/glucagon, blood vessels, and tyrosine hydroxylase (sympathetic marker) was used to reveal the graft microstructure, vasculature, and sympathetic innervation. Three weeks after transplantation, we observed perigraft sympathetic innervation similar to the peri-islet sympathetic innervation in the pancreas. Six weeks after transplantation, prominent intragraft, perivascular sympathetic innervation was achieved, resembling the pancreatic intraislet, perivascular sympathetic innervation in situ. Meanwhile, in diabetic recipients, a higher graft sympathetic nerve density was found compared with grafts in normoglycemic recipients, indicating the graft neural plasticity in response to the physiological difference of the recipients and the resolving power of this imaging approach. Overall, this new graft imaging method provides a useful tool to identify the islet neurovascular complex in an ectopic environment to study islet engraftment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyuhn-Huarng Juang
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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18
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Liu YA, Pan ST, Hou YC, Shen MY, Peng SJ, Tang SC, Chung YC. 3-D visualization and quantitation of microvessels in transparent human colorectal carcinoma [corrected]. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81857. [PMID: 24324559 PMCID: PMC3843693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microscopic analysis of tumor vasculature plays an important role in understanding the progression and malignancy of colorectal carcinoma. However, due to the geometry of blood vessels and their connections, standard microtome-based histology is limited in providing the spatial information of the vascular network with a 3-dimensional (3-D) continuum. To facilitate 3-D tissue analysis, we prepared transparent human colorectal biopsies by optical clearing for in-depth confocal microscopy with CD34 immunohistochemistry. Full-depth colons were obtained from colectomies performed for colorectal carcinoma. Specimens were prepared away from (control) and at the tumor site. Taking advantage of the transparent specimens, we acquired anatomic information up to 200 μm in depth for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the vasculature. Examples are given to illustrate: (1) the association between the tumor microstructure and vasculature in space, including the perivascular cuffs of tumor outgrowth, and (2) the difference between the 2-D and 3-D quantitation of microvessels. We also demonstrate that the optically cleared mucosa can be retrieved after 3-D microscopy to perform the standard microtome-based histology (H&E staining and immunohistochemistry) for systematic integration of the two tissue imaging methods. Overall, we established a new tumor histological approach to integrate 3-D imaging, illustration, and quantitation of human colonic microvessels in normal and cancerous specimens. This approach has significant promise to work with the standard histology to better characterize the tumor microenvironment in colorectal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-An Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shien-Tung Pan
- Department of Pathology, Miaoli General Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chi Hou
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital - Hsinchu, Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yin Shen
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital - Hsinchu, Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Peng
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Chiang Chung
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital - Hsinchu, Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Cheng Ching General Hospital, Chung Kang Branch, Taichung, Taiwan
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19
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Tang SC, Chiu YC, Hsu CT, Peng SJ, Fu YY. Plasticity of Schwann cells and pericytes in response to islet injury in mice. Diabetologia 2013; 56:2424-34. [PMID: 23801221 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-013-2977-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Islet Schwann (glial) cells and pericytes are the microorgan's accessory cells positioned at the external and internal boundaries facing the exocrine pancreas and endothelium, respectively, adjacent to the endocrine cells. Plasticity of glial cells and pericytes is shown in the glial scar formation after injury to the central nervous system. It remains unclear whether similar reactive cellular responses occur in insulitis. We applied three-dimensional (3D) histology to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of the islet Schwann cell network and pericytes in normal, streptozotocin-injected (positive control of gliosis) and NOD mouse models. METHODS Vessel painting paired with immunostaining of mouse pancreatic tissue was used to reveal the islet Schwann cells and pericytes and their association with vasculature. Transparent islet specimens were prepared by optical clearing to facilitate 3D confocal microscopy for panoramic visualisation of the tissue networks. RESULTS In-depth microscopy showed that the islet Schwann cell network extends from the peri-islet domain into the core. One week after streptozotocin injection, we observed intra-islet perivascular gliosis and an increase in pericyte density. In early/moderate insulitis in the NOD mice, perilesional gliosis occurred at the front of the lymphocytic infiltration with atypical islet Schwann cell morphologies, including excessive branching and perivascular gliosis. Meanwhile, pericytes aggregated on the walls of the feeding arteriole at the peri- and intralesional domains with a marked increase in surface marker density. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION The reactive cellular responses demonstrate plasticity and suggest a stop-gap mechanism consisting of the Schwann cells and pericytes in association with the islet lesion and vasculature when injury occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiue-Cheng Tang
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan,
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20
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Hua TE, Yang TL, Yang WC, Liu KJ, Tang SC. 3-D neurohistology of transparent tongue in health and injury with optical clearing. Front Neuroanat 2013; 7:36. [PMID: 24155698 PMCID: PMC3805177 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2013.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tongue receives extensive innervation to perform taste, sensory, and motor functions. Details of the tongue neuroanatomy and its plasticity in response to injury offer insights to investigate tongue neurophysiology and pathophysiology. However, due to the dispersed nature of the neural network, standard histology cannot provide a global view of the innervation. We prepared transparent mouse tongue by optical clearing to reveal the spatial features of the tongue innervation and its remodeling in injury. Immunostaining of neuronal markers, including PGP9.5 (pan-neuronal marker), calcitonin gene-related peptide (sensory nerves), tyrosine hydroxylase (sympathetic nerves), and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (cholinergic parasympathetic nerves and neuromuscular junctions), was combined with vessel painting and nuclear staining to label the tissue network and architecture. The tongue specimens were immersed in the optical-clearing solution to facilitate photon penetration for 3-dimensiontal (3-D) confocal microscopy. Taking advantage of the transparent tissue, we simultaneously revealed the tongue microstructure and innervation with subcellular-level resolution. 3-D projection of the papillary neurovascular complex and taste bud innervation was used to demonstrate the spatial features of tongue mucosa and the panoramic imaging approach. In the tongue injury induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide administration in the drinking water, we observed neural tissue remodeling in response to the changes of mucosal and muscular structures. Neural networks and the neuromuscular junctions were both found rearranged at the peri-lesional region, suggesting the nerve-lesion interactions in response to injury. Overall, this new tongue histological approach provides a useful tool for 3-D imaging of neural tissues to better characterize their roles with the mucosal and muscular components in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-En Hua
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu, Taiwan
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21
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Zhu D, Larin KV, Luo Q, Tuchin VV. Recent progress in tissue optical clearing. LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS 2013; 7:732-757. [PMID: 24348874 DOI: 10.1002/lpor.2013.7.issue-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Revised: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Tissue optical clearing technique provides a prospective solution for the application of advanced optical methods in life sciences. This paper gives a review of recent developments in tissue optical clearing techniques. The physical, molecular and physiological mechanisms of tissue optical clearing are overviewed and discussed. Various methods for enhancing penetration of optical-clearing agents into tissue, such as physical methods, chemical-penetration enhancers and combination of physical and chemical methods are introduced. Combining the tissue optical clearing technique with advanced microscopy image or labeling technique, applications for 3D microstructure of whole tissues such as brain and central nervous system with unprecedented resolution are demonstrated. Moreover, the difference in diffusion and/or clearing ability of selected agents in healthy versus pathological tissues can provide a highly sensitive indicator of the tissue health/pathology condition. Finally, recent advances in optical clearing of soft or hard tissue for in vivo imaging and phototherapy are introduced. [Formula: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, China ; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Photonics of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, China
| | - Kirill V Larin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, USA and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, USA ; Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - Qingming Luo
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, China ; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Photonics of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, China
| | - Valery V Tuchin
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University Saratov, 410012, Russia ; Laboratory of Laser Diagnostics of Technical and Living Systems, Institute of Precise Mechanics and Control RAS Saratov, 410028, Russia ; Optoelectronics and Measurement Techniques Laboratory, P.O. Box 4500, University of Oulu, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland
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22
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Zhu D, Larin KV, Luo Q, Tuchin VV. Recent progress in tissue optical clearing. LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS 2013; 7:732-757. [PMID: 24348874 PMCID: PMC3856422 DOI: 10.1002/lpor.201200056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Revised: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Tissue optical clearing technique provides a prospective solution for the application of advanced optical methods in life sciences. This paper gives a review of recent developments in tissue optical clearing techniques. The physical, molecular and physiological mechanisms of tissue optical clearing are overviewed and discussed. Various methods for enhancing penetration of optical-clearing agents into tissue, such as physical methods, chemical-penetration enhancers and combination of physical and chemical methods are introduced. Combining the tissue optical clearing technique with advanced microscopy image or labeling technique, applications for 3D microstructure of whole tissues such as brain and central nervous system with unprecedented resolution are demonstrated. Moreover, the difference in diffusion and/or clearing ability of selected agents in healthy versus pathological tissues can provide a highly sensitive indicator of the tissue health/pathology condition. Finally, recent advances in optical clearing of soft or hard tissue for in vivo imaging and phototherapy are introduced. [Formula: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Photonics of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Kirill V Larin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, USA and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, USA
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State UniversitySaratov, 410012, Russia
| | - Qingming Luo
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Photonics of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Valery V Tuchin
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State UniversitySaratov, 410012, Russia
- Laboratory of Laser Diagnostics of Technical and Living Systems, Institute of Precise Mechanics and Control RASSaratov, 410028, Russia
- Optoelectronics and Measurement Techniques Laboratory, P.O. Box 4500, University of Oulu, FIN-90014Oulu, Finland
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Liu YA, Chung YC, Pan ST, Shen MY, Hou YC, Peng SJ, Pasricha PJ, Tang SC. 3-D imaging, illustration, and quantitation of enteric glial network in transparent human colon mucosa. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2013; 25:e324-38. [PMID: 23495930 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.12115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enteric glia form a network in the intestinal mucosa and have been suggested to engage in multidirectional interactions with the epithelium, blood vessels, nerves, and immune system. However, due to the dispersed nature of the glial network, standard histology cannot provide a global view of the network architecture. We prepared transparent human colon mucosa for three-dimensional (3-D) confocal microscopy with S100B immunostaining to reveal the location-dependent glial network for qualitative and quantitative analyses. METHODS Full-thickness human colons were acquired from colectomies performed for colorectal cancer. We targeted the mucosa away from the tumor site to characterize the glial network morphology. Optical clearing (use of immersion solution to reduce scattering) was applied to generate transparent specimens for deep-tissue microscopy. KEY RESULTS Two features of the glial network were seen: (i) A dense glial population resides at the crypt base/mucosal boundary in contact with the lymphatic vessels, and (ii) from the base, the glial network elongates along the crypt axis with peri-cryptic and peri-vascular connections toward the opening. We quantified the mucosal glia as the S100B-positive cells with at least two processes extending from the cell body. Examples of the global and in-depth imaging of adenoma were given to illustrate the morphological correlation between the loss of glial fibers and the aberrant crypts. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES We have established a useful approach for 3-D imaging, panoramic illustration, and quantitation of the enteric glia in the human colon mucosa to help characterize their roles with mucosal components in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y A Liu
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Moy AJ, Wiersma MP, Choi B. Optical histology: a method to visualize microvasculature in thick tissue sections of mouse brain. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53753. [PMID: 23372668 PMCID: PMC3553090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microvasculature is the network of blood vessels involved in delivering nutrients and gases necessary for tissue survival. Study of the microvasculature often involves immunohistological methods. While useful for visualizing microvasculature at the µm scale in specific regions of interest, immunohistology is not well suited to visualize the global microvascular architecture in an organ. Hence, use of immunohistology precludes visualization of the entire microvasculature of an organ, and thus impedes study of global changes in the microvasculature that occur in concert with changes in tissue due to various disease states. Therefore, there is a critical need for a simple, relatively rapid technique that will facilitate visualization of the microvascular network of an entire tissue. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The systemic vasculature of a mouse is stained with the fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI using a method called "vessel painting". The brain, or other organ of interest, is harvested and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. The organ is then sliced into 1 mm sections and optically cleared, or made transparent, using FocusClear, a proprietary optical clearing agent. After optical clearing, the DiI-labeled tissue microvasculature is imaged using confocal fluorescence microscopy and adjacent image stacks tiled together to produce a depth-encoded map of the microvasculature in the tissue slice. We demonstrated that the use of optical clearing enhances both the tissue imaging depth and the estimate of the vascular density. Using our "optical histology" technique, we visualized microvasculature in the mouse brain to a depth of 850 µm. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Presented here are maps of the microvasculature in 1 mm thick slices of mouse brain. Using combined optical clearing and optical imaging techniques, we devised a methodology to enhance the visualization of the microvasculature in thick tissues. We believe this technique could potentially be used to generate a three-dimensional map of the microvasculature in an entire organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin J. Moy
- Beckman Laser Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew P. Wiersma
- Beckman Laser Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Bernard Choi
- Beckman Laser Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Fu YY, Peng SJ, Lin HY, Pasricha PJ, Tang SC. 3-D imaging and illustration of mouse intestinal neurovascular complex. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2013; 304:G1-11. [PMID: 23086917 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00209.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Because of the dispersed nature of nerves and blood vessels, standard histology cannot provide a global and associated observation of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and vascular network. We prepared transparent mouse intestine and combined vessel painting and three-dimensional (3-D) neurohistology for joint visualization of the ENS and vasculature. Cardiac perfusion of the fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin (vessel painting) was used to label the ileal blood vessels. The pan-neuronal marker PGP9.5, sympathetic neuronal marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin, and glial markers S100B and GFAP were used as the immunostaining targets of neural tissues. The fluorescently labeled specimens were immersed in the optical clearing solution to improve photon penetration for 3-D confocal microscopy. Notably, we simultaneously revealed the ileal microstructure, vasculature, and innervation with micrometer-level resolution. Four examples are given: 1) the morphology of the TH-labeled sympathetic nerves: sparse in epithelium, perivascular at the submucosa, and intraganglionic at myenteric plexus; 2) distinct patterns of the extrinsic perivascular and intrinsic pericryptic innervation at the submucosal-mucosal interface; 3) different associations of serotonin cells with the mucosal neurovascular elements in the villi and crypts; and 4) the periganglionic capillary network at the myenteric plexus and its contact with glial fibers. Our 3-D imaging approach provides a useful tool to simultaneously reveal the nerves and blood vessels in a space continuum for panoramic illustration and analysis of the neurovascular complex to better understand the intestinal physiology and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Yuan Fu
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Chiu YC, Hua TE, Fu YY, Pasricha PJ, Tang SC. 3-D imaging and illustration of the perfusive mouse islet sympathetic innervation and its remodelling in injury. Diabetologia 2012; 55:3252-61. [PMID: 22930160 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-012-2699-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Sympathetic nerves influence islet hormone levels in the circulation. Insights into islet sympathetic innervation and its remodelling in diabetes may impact future therapeutics. However, standard immunohistochemistry and microtome-based microscopy cannot provide an integral view of the islet neurovascular complex. We prepared transparent islet specimens to investigate the spatial relationship between sympathetic nerves, blood vessels and islet cells in normal, streptozotocin-injected and non-obese diabetic mouse models. METHODS Cardiac perfusion of fluorescent lectin was used to label pancreatic blood vessels. Tyrosine hydroxylase and nuclear staining were used to reveal islet sympathetic innervation and microstructure. Optical clearing (i.e. use of immersion solution to reduce scattering) was applied to enable 3-dimensional confocal microscopy of islets to visualise the sympathetic neurovascular complex in space. RESULTS Unlike previously reported morphology, we observed perfusive intra-islet, perivascular sympathetic innervation, in addition to peri-islet contacts of sympathetic nerves with alpha cells and sympathetic fibres encircling the adjacent arterioles. The intra-islet axons became markedly prominent in streptozotocin-injected mice (2 weeks after injection). In non-obese diabetic mice, lymphocytic infiltration remodelled the peri-islet sympathetic axons in early insulitis. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION We have established an imaging approach to reveal the spatial features of mouse islet sympathetic innervation. The neurovascular complex and sympathetic nerve-alpha cell contact suggest that sympathetic nerves modulate islet hormone secretion through blood vessels, in addition to acting directly on alpha cells. In islet injuries, sympathetic nerves undergo different remodelling in response to different pathophysiological cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-C Chiu
- Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Yuan Fu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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