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Napieczyńska H, Kedziora SM, Haase N, Müller DN, Heuser A, Dechend R, Kräker K. μCT imaging of a multi-organ vascular fingerprint in rats. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308601. [PMID: 39401231 PMCID: PMC11472947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 10/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The importance of microvascular imaging in diagnosis and therapeutic targeting of various diseases is increasingly recognized. The new approach emphasizes the need for holistic studies to understand the inter-organ vascular cross-talk. Here, we report on the development of a novel perfusion protocol which consistently delivers a micro-computed tomography contrast agent to micro-vessels of multiple organs in a single experimental animal. We describe the achieved repeatability of the perfusions, as well as the image analysis steps developed individually for each organ type. We also optimize image acquisition by investigating the compromise between shortening of the scanning time and preservation of the highest possible spatial resolution. Taking together, with the multi-organ perfusion, optimized image acquisition, and the conceived image analysis steps, we provide a comprehensive and reliable experimental protocol for studying vascular morphology and pathology in multi-organ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Napieczyńska
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah M. Kedziora
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center–A Joint Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Haase
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center–A Joint Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik N. Müller
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center–A Joint Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, HELIOS Clinic, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arnd Heuser
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Dechend
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center–A Joint Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiology and Nephrology, HELIOS Clinic, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristin Kräker
- Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center–A Joint Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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2
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Goossens E, Deblock L, Caboor L, Eynden DVD, Josipovic I, Isaacura PR, Maksimova E, Van Impe M, Bonnin A, Segers P, Cornillie P, Boone MN, Van Driessche I, De Spiegelaere W, De Roo J, Sips P, De Buysser K. From Corrosion Casting to Virtual Dissection: Contrast-Enhanced Vascular Imaging using Hafnium Oxide Nanocrystals. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301499. [PMID: 38200600 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Vascular corrosion casting is a method used to visualize the three dimensional (3D) anatomy and branching pattern of blood vessels. A polymer resin is injected in the vascular system and, after curing, the surrounding tissue is removed. The latter often deforms or even fractures the fragile cast. Here, a method is proposed that does not require corrosion, and is based on in situ micro computed tomography (micro-CT) scans. To overcome the lack of CT contrast between the polymer cast and the animals' surrounding soft tissue, hafnium oxide nanocrystals (HfO2 NCs) are introduced as CT contrast agents into the resin. The NCs dramatically improve the overall CT contrast of the cast and allow for straightforward segmentation in the CT scans. Careful design of the NC surface chemistry ensures the colloidal stability of the NCs in the casting resin. Using only 5 m% of HfO2 NCs, high-quality cardiovascular casts of both zebrafish and mice can be automatically segmented using CT imaging software. This allows to differentiate even μ $\umu$ m-scale details without having to alter the current resin injection methods. This new method of virtual dissection by visualizing casts in situ using contrast-enhanced CT imaging greatly expands the application potential of the technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Goossens
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Loren Deblock
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Lisa Caboor
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Dietger Van den Eynden
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Iván Josipovic
- Center for X-ray Tomography, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Pablo Reyes Isaacura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Morphology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
- Centre for Polymer Material Technologies, Ghent University, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
- Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Elizaveta Maksimova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Van Impe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Anne Bonnin
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Segers
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Pieter Cornillie
- Laboratory of Veterinary Morphology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| | - Matthieu N Boone
- Center for X-ray Tomography, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | | | - Ward De Spiegelaere
- Laboratory of Veterinary Morphology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| | - Jonathan De Roo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Sips
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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3
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Rahmani S, Jafree DJ, Lee PD, Tafforeau P, Brunet J, Nandanwar S, Jacob J, Bellier A, Ackermann M, Jonigk DD, Shipley RJ, Long DA, Walsh CL. Mapping the blood vasculature in an intact human kidney using hierarchical phase-contrast tomography. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.28.534566. [PMID: 37034801 PMCID: PMC10081185 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The architecture of the kidney vasculature is essential for its function. Although structural profiling of the intact rodent kidney vasculature has been performed, it is challenging to map vascular architecture of larger human organs. We hypothesised that hierarchical phase-contrast tomography (HiP-CT) would enable quantitative analysis of the entire human kidney vasculature. Combining label-free HiP-CT imaging of an intact kidney from a 63-year-old male with topology network analysis, we quantitated vasculature architecture in the human kidney down to the scale of arterioles. Although human and rat kidney vascular topologies are comparable, vascular radius decreases at a significantly faster rate in humans as vessels branch from artery towards the cortex. At branching points of large vessels, radii are theoretically optimised to minimise flow resistance, an observation not found for smaller arterioles. Structural differences in the vasculature were found in different spatial zones of the kidney reflecting their unique functional roles. Overall, this represents the first time the entire arterial vasculature of a human kidney has been mapped providing essential inputs for computational models of kidney vascular flow and synthetic vascular architectures, with implications for understanding how the structure of individual blood vessels collectively scales to facilitate organ function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrokh Rahmani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniyal J Jafree
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK, WC1N 1EH
- UCL MB/PhD Programme, Faculty of Medical Science, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
- UCL Centre of Kidney and Bladder Health, UCL London UK
| | - Peter D Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
| | - Paul Tafforeau
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, 38043
| | - Joseph Brunet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, 38043
| | - Sonal Nandanwar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
| | - Joseph Jacob
- Satsuma Lab, Centre for Medical Image Computing, UCL, London, UK
- Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL, London, UK
| | - Alexandre Bellier
- Department of Anatomy (LADAF), Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France, 38058
| | - Maximilian Ackermann
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Pathology and Department of Molecular Pathology, Helios University Clinic Wuppertal, University of Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen Medical University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Danny D Jonigk
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen Medical University, Aachen, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca J Shipley
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
| | - David A Long
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK, WC1N 1EH
- UCL Centre of Kidney and Bladder Health, UCL London UK
| | - Claire L Walsh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK, WC1E 6BT
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Denis L, Bodard S, Hingot V, Chavignon A, Battaglia J, Renault G, Lager F, Aissani A, Hélénon O, Correas JM, Couture O. Sensing ultrasound localization microscopy for the visualization of glomeruli in living rats and humans. EBioMedicine 2023; 91:104578. [PMID: 37086650 PMCID: PMC10149190 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimation of glomerular function is necessary to diagnose kidney diseases. However, the study of glomeruli in the clinic is currently done indirectly through urine and blood tests. A recent imaging technique called Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (ULM) has appeared. It is based on the ability to record continuous movements of individual microbubbles in the bloodstream. Although ULM improved the resolution of vascular imaging up to tenfold, the imaging of the smallest vessels had yet to be reported. METHODS We acquired ultrasound sequences from living humans and rats and then applied filters to divide the data set into slow-moving and fast-moving microbubbles. We performed a double tracking to highlight and characterize populations of microbubbles with singular behaviors. We decided to call this technique "sensing ULM" (sULM). We used post-mortem micro-CT for side-by-side confirmation in rats. FINDINGS In this study, we report the observation of microbubbles flowing in the glomeruli in living humans and rats. We present a set of analysis tools to extract quantitative information from individual microbubbles, such as remanence time or normalized distance. INTERPRETATION As glomeruli play a key role in kidney function, it would be possible that their observation yields a deeper understanding of the kidney. It could also be a tool to diagnose kidney diseases in patients. More generally, it will bring imaging capabilities closer to the functional units of organs, which is a key to understand most diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, or kidney failures. FUNDING This study was funded by the European Research Council under the European Union Horizon H2020 program (ERC Consolidator grant agreement No 772786-ResolveStroke).
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Denis
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France.
| | - Sylvain Bodard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Service d'Imagerie Adulte, F-75015, Paris, France; Université de Paris Cité, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Hingot
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Arthur Chavignon
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Battaglia
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Gilles Renault
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Franck Lager
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Abderrahmane Aissani
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Hélénon
- AP-HP, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Service d'Imagerie Adulte, F-75015, Paris, France; Université de Paris Cité, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Correas
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Service d'Imagerie Adulte, F-75015, Paris, France; Université de Paris Cité, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Couture
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75006, Paris, France
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5
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Zhu J, Liu X, Xu J, Deng Y, Wang P, Liu Z, Yang Q, Li D, Yu T, Zhu D. A versatile vessel casting method for fine mapping of vascular networks using a hydrogel-based lipophilic dye solution. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100407. [PMID: 36936073 PMCID: PMC10014313 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Efficient labeling of the vasculature is important for understanding the organization of vascular networks. Here, we propose VALID, a vessel-labeling method that enables visualization of vascular networks with tissue clearing and light-sheet microscopy. VALID transforms traditional lipophilic dye solution into hydrogel by introducing gelatin and restrains the dye aggregation, resulting in complete and uniform vessel-labeling patterns with high signal-to-background ratios. VALID also enhances the compatibility of lipophilic dyes with solvent-based tissue-clearing protocols, which was hard to achieve previously. Using VALID, we combined lipophilic dyes with solvent-based tissue-clearing techniques to perform 3D reconstructions of vasculature within mouse brain and spinal cord. We also employed VALID for 3D visualization and quantification of microvascular damage in a middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model. VALID should provide a simple, cost-effective vessel-labeling protocol that would significantly widen the applications of lipophilic dyes in research on cerebrovascular complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaomei Liu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Jianyi Xu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Yating Deng
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Pingfu Wang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Zhang Liu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Qihang Yang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Dongyu Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Tingting Yu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
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6
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Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor pathway suppresses tubulointerstitial injury in renal congestion. J Hypertens 2022; 40:1935-1949. [PMID: 35983805 PMCID: PMC9451920 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Increased central venous pressure in congestive heart failure is responsible for renal dysfunction, which is mediated by renal venous congestion. Pericyte detachment from capillaries after renal congestion might trigger renal fibrogenesis via pericyte-myofibroblast transition (PMT). Platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs), which are PMT indicators, were upregulated in our recently established renal congestion model. This study was designed to determine whether inhibition of the PDGFR pathway could suppress tubulointerstitial injury after renal congestion. METHODS The inferior vena cava between the renal veins was ligated in male Sprague-Dawley rats, inducing congestion only in the left kidney. Imatinib mesylate or vehicle were injected intraperitoneally daily from 1 day before the operation. Three days after the surgery, the effect of imatinib was assessed by physiological, morphological and molecular methods. The inhibition of PDGFRs against transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1)-induced fibrosis was also tested in human pericyte cell culture. RESULTS Increased kidney weight and renal fibrosis were observed in the congested kidneys. Upstream inferior vena cava (IVC) pressure immediately increased to around 20 mmHg after IVC ligation in both the imatinib and saline groups. Although vasa recta dilatation and pericyte detachment under renal congestion were maintained, imatinib ameliorated the increased kidney weight and suppressed renal fibrosis around the vasa recta. TGFB1-induced elevation of fibrosis markers in human pericytes was suppressed by PDGFR inhibitors at the transcriptional level. CONCLUSION The activation of the PDGFR pathway after renal congestion was responsible for renal congestion-induced fibrosis. This mechanism could be a candidate therapeutic target for renoprotection against renal congestion-induced tubulointerstitial injury.
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7
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Estrada CC, Cardona S, Guo Y, Revelo MP, D'Agati VD, Koganti S, Devaraj J, He JC, Heeger PS, Mallipattu SK. Endothelial-specific loss of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 triggers complement-mediated endothelial injury. Kidney Int 2022; 102:58-77. [PMID: 35483525 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2022.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in the kidney represents the most severe manifestation of kidney microvascular endothelial injury. Despite the source of the inciting event, the diverse clinical forms of kidney TMA share dysregulation of endothelial cell transcripts and complement activation. Here, we show that endothelial-specific knockdown of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (Klf4)ΔEC, an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic zinc-finger transcription factor, increases the susceptibility to glomerular endothelial injury and microangiopathy in two genetic murine models that included endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice and aged mice (52 weeks), as well as in a pharmacologic model of TMA using Shiga-toxin 2. In all models, Klf4ΔEC mice exhibit increased pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory transcripts, as well as increased complement factors C3 and C5b-9 deposition and histologic features consistent with subacute TMA. Interestingly, complement activation in Klf4ΔEC mice was accompanied by reduced expression of a key KLF4 transcriptional target and membrane bound complement regulatory gene, Cd55. To assess a potential mechanism by which KLF4 might regulate CD55 expression, we performed in silico chromatin immunoprecipitation enrichment analysis of the CD55 promotor and found KLF4 binding sites upstream from the CD55 transcription start site. Using patient-derived kidney biopsy specimens, we found glomerular expression of KLF4 and CD55 was reduced in patients with TMA as compared to control biopsies of the unaffected pole of patient kidneys removed due to kidney cancer. Thus, our data support that endothelial Klf4 is necessary for maintenance of a quiescent glomerular endothelial phenotype and its loss increases susceptibility to complement activation and induction of prothrombotic and pro-inflammatory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea C Estrada
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Renal Section, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie Cardona
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Yiqing Guo
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Monica P Revelo
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Vivette D D'Agati
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Siva Koganti
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jason Devaraj
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - John C He
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter S Heeger
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sandeep K Mallipattu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Renal Section, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA.
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8
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Tran N, Garcia T, Aniqa M, Ali S, Ally A, Nauli SM. Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) and the Cardiovascular System: in Physiology and in Disease States. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE & RESEARCH 2022; 15:153-177. [PMID: 35072089 PMCID: PMC8774925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a critical role in regulating and maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. The importance of eNOS can be emphasized from the genetic polymorphisms of the eNOS gene, uncoupling of eNOS dimerization, and its numerous signaling regulations. The activity of eNOS on the cardiac myocytes, vasculature, and the central nervous system are discussed. The effects of eNOS on the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (SANS) and the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system (PANS), both of which profoundly influence the cardiovascular system, will be elaborated. The relationship between the eNOS protein with cardiovascular autonomic reflexes such as the baroreflex and the Exercise Pressor Reflex will be discussed. For example, the effects of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) are shown to be mediated by the eNOS protein and that eNOS-derived endothelial NO is most effective in regulating blood pressure oscillations via modulating the baroreflex mechanisms. The protective action of eNOS on the CVS is emphasized here because dysfunction of the eNOS enzyme is intricately correlated with the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Overall, our current understanding of the eNOS protein with a focus on its role in the modulation, regulation, and control of the cardiovascular system in a normal physiological state and in cardiovascular diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Tran
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, AR, USA
| | - T Garcia
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, AR, USA
| | - M Aniqa
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, AR, USA
| | - S Ali
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, AR, USA
| | - A Ally
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, AR, USA,Corresponding author: Surya M Nauli, Chapman University and University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - SM Nauli
- Chapman University and University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,Corresponding author: Surya M Nauli, Chapman University and University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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9
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Chadwick EA, Suzuki T, George MG, Romero DA, Amon C, Waddell TK, Karoubi G, Bazylak A. Vessel network extraction and analysis of mouse pulmonary vasculature via X-ray micro-computed tomographic imaging. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008930. [PMID: 33878108 PMCID: PMC8594947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, non-invasive high-spatial resolution three-dimensional (3D) X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) of healthy mouse lung vasculature is performed. Methodologies are presented for filtering, segmenting, and skeletonizing the collected 3D images. Novel methods for the removal of spurious branch artefacts from the skeletonized 3D image are introduced, and these novel methods involve a combination of distance transform gradients, diameter-length ratios, and the fast marching method (FMM). These new techniques of spurious branch removal result in the consistent removal of spurious branches without compromising the connectivity of the pulmonary circuit. Analysis of the filtered, skeletonized, and segmented 3D images is performed using a newly developed Vessel Network Extraction algorithm to fully characterize the morphology of the mouse pulmonary circuit. The removal of spurious branches from the skeletonized image results in an accurate representation of the pulmonary circuit with significantly less variability in vessel diameter and vessel length in each generation. The branching morphology of a full pulmonary circuit is characterized by the mean diameter per generation and number of vessels per generation. The methods presented in this paper lead to a significant improvement in the characterization of 3D vasculature imaging, allow for automatic separation of arteries and veins, and for the characterization of generations containing capillaries and intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Chadwick
- Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Material Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Takaya Suzuki
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G. George
- Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Material Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David A. Romero
- Advanced Thermal/Fluid Optimization, Modelling, and Simulation (ATOMS) Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cristina Amon
- Advanced Thermal/Fluid Optimization, Modelling, and Simulation (ATOMS) Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thomas K. Waddell
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Golnaz Karoubi
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aimy Bazylak
- Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Material Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Bennett KM, Baldelomar EJ, Morozov D, Chevalier RL, Charlton JR. New imaging tools to measure nephron number in vivo: opportunities for developmental nephrology. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 12:179-183. [PMID: 31983353 PMCID: PMC8765346 DOI: 10.1017/s204017442000001x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian kidney is a complex organ, requiring the concerted function of up to millions of nephrons. The number of nephrons is constant after nephrogenesis during development, and nephron loss over a life span can lead to susceptibility to acute or chronic kidney disease. New technologies are under development to count individual nephrons in the kidney in vivo. This review outlines these technologies and highlights their relevance to studies of human renal development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Bennett
- Department of Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - E J Baldelomar
- Department of Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - D Morozov
- Department of Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - R L Chevalier
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - J R Charlton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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11
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Leyssens L, Pestiaux C, Kerckhofs G. A Review of Ex Vivo X-ray Microfocus Computed Tomography-Based Characterization of the Cardiovascular System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3263. [PMID: 33806852 PMCID: PMC8004599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular malformations and diseases are common but complex and often not yet fully understood. To better understand the effects of structural and microstructural changes of the heart and the vasculature on their proper functioning, a detailed characterization of the microstructure is crucial. In vivo imaging approaches are noninvasive and allow visualizing the heart and the vasculature in 3D. However, their spatial image resolution is often too limited for microstructural analyses, and hence, ex vivo imaging is preferred for this purpose. Ex vivo X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) is a rapidly emerging high-resolution 3D structural imaging technique often used for the assessment of calcified tissues. Contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) or phase-contrast microCT (PC-CT) improve this technique by additionally allowing the distinction of different low X-ray-absorbing soft tissues. In this review, we present the strengths of ex vivo microCT, CE-CT and PC-CT for quantitative 3D imaging of the structure and/or microstructure of the heart, the vasculature and their substructures in healthy and diseased state. We also discuss their current limitations, mainly with regard to the contrasting methods and the tissue preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Leyssens
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Camille Pestiaux
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
- Department of Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Sangha GS, Goergen CJ, Prior SJ, Ranadive SM, Clyne AM. Preclinical techniques to investigate exercise training in vascular pathophysiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 320:H1566-H1600. [PMID: 33385323 PMCID: PMC8260379 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00719.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a dynamic process starting with endothelial dysfunction and inflammation and eventually leading to life-threatening arterial plaques. Exercise generally improves endothelial function in a dose-dependent manner by altering hemodynamics, specifically by increased arterial pressure, pulsatility, and shear stress. However, athletes who regularly participate in high-intensity training can develop arterial plaques, suggesting alternative mechanisms through which excessive exercise promotes vascular disease. Understanding the mechanisms that drive atherosclerosis in sedentary versus exercise states may lead to novel rehabilitative methods aimed at improving exercise compliance and physical activity. Preclinical tools, including in vitro cell assays, in vivo animal models, and in silico computational methods, broaden our capabilities to study the mechanisms through which exercise impacts atherogenesis, from molecular maladaptation to vascular remodeling. Here, we describe how preclinical research tools have and can be used to study exercise effects on atherosclerosis. We then propose how advanced bioengineering techniques can be used to address gaps in our current understanding of vascular pathophysiology, including integrating in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies across multiple tissue systems and size scales. Improving our understanding of the antiatherogenic exercise effects will enable engaging, targeted, and individualized exercise recommendations to promote cardiovascular health rather than treating cardiovascular disease that results from a sedentary lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurneet S Sangha
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Craig J Goergen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Steven J Prior
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland.,Baltimore Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sushant M Ranadive
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland
| | - Alisa M Clyne
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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13
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Innovative high-resolution microCT imaging of animal brain vasculature. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:2885-2895. [PMID: 33128675 PMCID: PMC7674347 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02158-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of the angioarchitecture and quantification of the conduit vessels and microvasculature is of paramount importance for understanding the physiological and pathological processes within the central nervous system (CNS). Most of the available in vivo imaging methods lack penetration depth and/or resolution. Some ex vivo methods may provide better resolution, but are mainly destructive, as they are designed for imaging the CNS tissues after their removal from the skull or vertebral column. The removal procedure inevitably alters the in situ relations of the investigated structures and damages the dura mater and leptomeninges. µAngiofil, a polymer-based contrast agent, permits a qualitatively novel postmortem microangio-computed tomography (microangioCT) approach with excellent resolution and, therefore, visualization of the smallest brain capillaries. The datasets obtained empower a rather straightforward quantitative analysis of the vascular tree, including the microvasculature. The µAngiofil has an excellent filling capacity as well as a radio-opacity higher than the one of bone tissue, which allows imaging the cerebral microvasculature even within the intact skull or vertebral column. This permits in situ visualization and thus investigation of the dura mater and leptomeningeal layers as well as their blood supply in their original geometry. Moreover, the methodology introduced here permits correlative approaches, i.e., microangioCT followed by classical histology, immunohistochemistry and even electron microscopy. The experimental approach presented here makes use of common desktop microCT scanners, rendering it a promising everyday tool for the evaluation of the (micro)vasculature of the central nervous system in preclinical and basic research.
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14
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Andersen SB, Taghavi I, Hoyos CAV, Søgaard SB, Gran F, Lönn L, Hansen KL, Jensen JA, Nielsen MB, Sørensen CM. Super-Resolution Imaging with Ultrasound for Visualization of the Renal Microvasculature in Rats Before and After Renal Ischemia: A Pilot Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:diagnostics10110862. [PMID: 33105888 PMCID: PMC7690607 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10110862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo monitoring of the microvasculature is relevant since diseases such as diabetes, ischemia, or cancer cause microvascular impairment. Super-resolution ultrasound imaging allows in vivo examination of the microvasculature by detecting and tracking sparsely distributed intravascular microbubbles over a minute-long period. The ability to create detailed images of the renal vasculature of Sprague-Dawley rats using a modified clinical ultrasound platform was investigated in this study. Additionally, we hypothesized that early ischemic damage to the renal microcirculation could be visualized. After a baseline scan of the exposed kidney, 10 rats underwent clamping of the renal vein (n = 5) or artery (n = 5) for 45 min. The kidneys were rescanned at the onset of clamp release and after 60 min of reperfusion. Using a processing pipeline for tissue motion compensation and microbubble tracking, super-resolution images with a very high level of detail were constructed. Image filtration allowed further characterization of the vasculature by isolating specific vessels such as the ascending vasa recta with a 15–20 μm diameter. Using the super-resolution images alone, it was only possible for six assessors to consistently distinguish the healthy renal microvasculature from the microvasculature at the onset of vein clamp release. Future studies will aim at attaining quantitative estimations of alterations in the renal microvascular blood flow using super-resolution ultrasound imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Bech Andersen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.B.S.); (L.L.); (K.L.H.); (M.B.N.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence:
| | - Iman Taghavi
- Center for Fast Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark; (I.T.); (J.A.J.)
| | | | - Stinne Byrholdt Søgaard
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.B.S.); (L.L.); (K.L.H.); (M.B.N.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fredrik Gran
- BK Medical ApS, 2730 Herlev, Denmark; (C.A.V.H.); (F.G.)
| | - Lars Lönn
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.B.S.); (L.L.); (K.L.H.); (M.B.N.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer Lindskov Hansen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.B.S.); (L.L.); (K.L.H.); (M.B.N.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Arendt Jensen
- Center for Fast Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark; (I.T.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Michael Bachmann Nielsen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.B.S.); (L.L.); (K.L.H.); (M.B.N.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Kuo W, Le NA, Spingler B, Wenger RH, Kipar A, Hetzel U, Schulz G, Müller B, Kurtcuoglu V. Simultaneous Three-Dimensional Vascular and Tubular Imaging of Whole Mouse Kidneys With X-ray μCT. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2020; 26:731-740. [PMID: 32627730 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927620001725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Concurrent three-dimensional imaging of the renal vascular and tubular systems on the whole-kidney scale with capillary level resolution is labor-intensive and technically difficult. Approaches based on vascular corrosion casting and X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT), for example, suffer from vascular filling artifacts and necessitate imaging with an additional modality to acquire tubules. In this work, we report on a new sample preparation, image acquisition, and quantification protocol for simultaneous vascular and tubular μCT imaging of whole, uncorroded mouse kidneys. The protocol consists of vascular perfusion with the water-soluble, aldehyde-fixable, polymeric X-ray contrast agent XlinCA, followed by laboratory-source μCT imaging and structural analysis using the freely available Fiji/ImageJ software. We achieved consistent filling of the entire capillary bed and staining of the tubules in the cortex and outer medulla. After imaging at isotropic voxel sizes of 3.3 and 4.4 μm, we segmented vascular and tubular systems and quantified luminal volumes, surface areas, diffusion distances, and vessel path lengths. This protocol permits the analysis of vascular and tubular parameters with higher reliability than vascular corrosion casting, less labor than serial sectioning and leaves tissue intact for subsequent histological examination with light and electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy Kuo
- University of Zurich, Institute of Physiology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, National Centre of Competence in Research, Kidney. CH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Gewerbestrasse 14, 4123Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Ngoc An Le
- University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Spingler
- University of Zurich, Department of Chemistry, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland H Wenger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Physiology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, National Centre of Competence in Research, Kidney. CH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anja Kipar
- University of Zurich, Laboratory for Animal Model Pathology (LAMP), Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Winterthurerstrasse 268, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Udo Hetzel
- University of Zurich, Electron Microscopy Unit, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Winterthurerstrasse 268, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Georg Schulz
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Gewerbestrasse 14, 4123Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Bert Müller
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Gewerbestrasse 14, 4123Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Vartan Kurtcuoglu
- University of Zurich, Institute of Physiology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, National Centre of Competence in Research, Kidney. CH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, 8057Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Knutsen RH, Gober LM, Sukinik JR, Donahue DR, Kronquist EK, Levin MD, McLean SE, Kozel BA. Vascular Casting of Adult and Early Postnatal Mouse Lungs for Micro-CT Imaging. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32628170 DOI: 10.3791/61242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessels form intricate networks in 3-dimensional space. Consequently, it is difficult to visually appreciate how vascular networks interact and behave by observing the surface of a tissue. This method provides a means to visualize the complex 3-dimensional vascular architecture of the lung. To accomplish this, a catheter is inserted into the pulmonary artery and the vasculature is simultaneously flushed of blood and chemically dilated to limit resistance. Lungs are then inflated through the trachea at a standard pressure and the polymer compound is infused into the vascular bed at a standard flow rate. Once the entire arterial network is filled and allowed to cure, the lung vasculature may be visualized directly or imaged on a micro-CT (µCT) scanner. When performed successfully, one can appreciate the pulmonary arterial network in mice ranging from early postnatal ages to adults. Additionally, while demonstrated in the pulmonary arterial bed, this method can be applied to any vascular bed with optimized catheter placement and endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell H Knutsen
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Leah M Gober
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Joseph R Sukinik
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Danielle R Donahue
- Mouse Imaging Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
| | - Elise K Kronquist
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Mark D Levin
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Sean E McLean
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Beth A Kozel
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health;
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17
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Mathot F, Rbia N, Bishop AT, Hovius SER, Shin AY. Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto a decellularized nerve allograft enhances angiogenesis in a rat sciatic nerve defect model. Microsurgery 2020; 40:585-592. [PMID: 32233045 DOI: 10.1002/micr.30579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are hypothesized to supplement tissues with growth factors essential for regeneration and neovascularization. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of MSCs with respect to neoangiogenesis when seeded onto a decellularized nerve allograft in a rat sciatic nerve defect model. METHODS Allograft nerves were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rats and decellularized. MSCs were obtained from Lewis rats. 10 mm sciatic nerve defects in Lewis rats were reconstructed with reversed autograft nerves, decellularized allografts, decellularized allografts seeded with undifferentiated MSC or decellularized allografts seeded with differentiated MSCs. At 16 weeks, the vascular surface area and volume were evaluated. RESULTS The vascular surface area in normal nerves (34.9 ± 5.7%), autografts (29.5 ± 8.7%), allografts seeded with differentiated (38.9 ± 7.0%) and undifferentiated MSCs (29.2 ± 3.4%) did not significantly differ from each other. Unseeded allografts (21.2 ± 6.2%) had a significantly lower vascular surface area percentage than normal nonoperated nerves (13.7%, p = .001) and allografts seeded with differentiated MSCs (17.8%, p = .001). Although the vascular surface area was significantly correlated to the vascular volume (r = .416; p = .008), no significant differences were found between groups concerning vascular volumes. The vascularization pattern in allografts seeded with MSCs consisted of an extensive nonaligned network of microvessels with a centripetal pattern, while the vessels in autografts and normal nerves were more longitudinally aligned with longitudinal inosculation patterns. CONCLUSIONS Neoangiogenesis of decellularized allograft nerves was enhanced by stem cell seeding, in particular by differentiated MSCs. The pattern of vascularization was different between decellularized allograft nerves seeded with MSCs compared to autograft nerves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Femke Mathot
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Plastic Surgery, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nadia Rbia
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Allen T Bishop
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Steven E R Hovius
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Xpert Clinic, Hand and Wrist Surgery, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Y Shin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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18
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Le NA, Kuo W, Müller B, Kurtcuoglu V, Spingler B. Crosslinkable polymeric contrast agent for high-resolution X-ray imaging of the vascular system. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:5885-5888. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc09883f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A contrast agent for X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT), called XlinCA, that combines reliable perfusion and permanent retention and contrast properties, was developed for ex vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc An Le
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - Willy Kuo
- Institute of Physiology
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
- National Centre of Competence in Research
| | - Bert Müller
- Biomaterials Science Center
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- University of Basel
- 4123 Allschwil
- Switzerland
| | - Vartan Kurtcuoglu
- Institute of Physiology
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
- National Centre of Competence in Research
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19
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Saffari TM, Mathot F, Bishop AT, Shin AY. New methods for objective angiogenesis evaluation of rat nerves using microcomputed tomography scanning and conventional photography. Microsurgery 2019; 40:370-376. [PMID: 31758730 DOI: 10.1002/micr.30537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nerve regeneration involves multiple processes, which enhance blood supply that can be promoted by growth factors. Currently, tools are lacking to visualize the vascularization patterns in transplanted nerves in vivo. The purpose of this study was to describe three-dimensional visualization of the vascular system in the rat sciatic nerve and to quantify angiogenesis of nerve reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 12 Lewis rats (weighing 250-300 g), 10 mm sciatic nerve gaps were repaired with ipsilateral reversed autologous nerve grafts. At 12 and 16 weeks of sacrifice, Microfil® contrast compound was injected in the aorta. Nerve autografts (N = 12) and contralateral untreated nerves (N = 12) were harvested and cleared while preserving the vasculature. The amount of vascularization was measured by quantifying the vascular surface area using conventional photography (two-dimensional) and the vascular volume was calculated with microcomputed tomography (three-dimensional). For each measurement, a vessel/nerve area ratio was calculated and expressed in percentages (vessel%). RESULTS The vascular volume measured 3.53 ± 0.43% in autografts and 4.83 ± 0.45% vessels in controls at 12 weeks and 4.95 ± 0.44% and 6.19 ± 0.29% vessels at 16 weeks, respectively. The vascular surface area measured 25.04 ± 2.77% in autografts and 26.87 ± 2.13% vessels in controls at 12 weeks, and 28.11 ± 3.47% and 33.71 ± 2.60% vessels at 16 weeks, respectively. The correlation between both methods was statistically significant (p = .049). CONCLUSIONS Both methods are considered to successfully reflect the degree of vascularization. Application of this technique could be used to visualize and objectively quantify angiogenesis of the transplanted nerve graft. Moreover, this simple method is easily reproducible and could be extrapolated to any other desired target organ ex vivo in small animals to investigate the vascular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiam M Saffari
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,Department of Plastic-, Reconstructive- and Hand Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Femke Mathot
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Allen T Bishop
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Alexander Y Shin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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20
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Comparison of Three-Dimensional Micro-CT Angiography of Cervical Spinal Cord between Two Contrast Agents. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2019; 2019:5215923. [PMID: 31110469 PMCID: PMC6487131 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5215923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Barium sulfate and lead oxide are commonly used for angiographic studies, but there is no report on the comparison of two contrast agents in angiography of cervical spinal cord. This study was aimed to compare the microvascular architecture of cervical spinal cord in rats after angiography with the barium sulfate agent to the lead oxide agent. Methods Twelve adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the barium sulfate group (n=6) and the lead oxide group (n=6). Each rat was perfused under the same protocol using either two contrast agents. The angiography was evaluated with the vascular number at different ranks. The cervical spinal cord samples were scanned using micro-CT with low resolution and high resolution. The microvascular parameters, including ratio of vascular volume to tissue volume (VV/TV), vascular number (V.N), diameter (V.Dm), separation (V.Sp), connectivity density (Conn.D), structure model index (SMI), percentage, and volume of vessels at different diameters were measured. Results The perfusion was better in the barium sulfate group, with more blood vessel trees of rank II and III visible compared to the lead oxide group. Low-resolution micro-CT analysis showed no difference in microvascular parameters except SMI between the two groups. High-resolution micro-CT analysis results showed that V.N and Conn.D of barium sulfate group were 60% and 290% more than those of the lead oxide group; however, V.Sp was 41% less than the lead oxide group. The percentage of vessels with diameter of 10 μm and 20 μm, and the volume of vessels with diameter of less than 100 μm was higher in the barium sulfate group than in the lead oxide group. The SMI index in the barium sulfate group was higher than that in the lead oxide group at both low resolution and high resolution. Conclusions Compared with lead oxide, barium sulfate is more suitable for perfusion of cervical spinal cord microvessels, and cheap and nontoxic with high resolution.
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Jiang X, Du B, Tang S, Hsieh J, Zheng J. Photoacoustic Imaging of Nanoparticle Transport in the Kidneys at High Temporal Resolution. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201901525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xingya Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd. Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Bujie Du
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd. Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Shaoheng Tang
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd. Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Jer‐Tsong Hsieh
- Department of UrologyThe University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas TX 75390 USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd. Richardson TX 75080 USA
- Department of UrologyThe University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas TX 75390 USA
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Jiang X, Bujie D, Shaoheng T, Jer-Tsong H, Jie Z. Photoacoustic Imaging of Nanoparticle Transport in the Kidneys at High Temporal Resolution. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:5994-6000. [PMID: 30850996 PMCID: PMC6548461 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201901525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Noninvasive monitoring of kidney elimination of engineered nanoparticles at high temporal and spatial resolution will not only significantly advance our fundamental understandings of nephrology on the nanoscale, but also aid in the early detection of kidney disease, which affects more than 10 % of the worldwide population. Taking advantage of strong NIR absorption of the well-defined Au25 (SG)18 nanocluster, photoacoustic (PA) imaging was used to visualize its transport in situ through the aorta to the renal parenchyma and its subsequent filtration into the renal pelvis at a temporal resolution down to 1 s. High temporal and spatial resolution imaging of Au25 (SG)18 kidney elimination allowed the accurate quantification of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of individual kidneys in normal and pathological conditions, broadening the biomedical applications of engineered nanoparticles in preclinical kidney research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingya Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 (USA)
| | - Du Bujie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 (USA)
| | - Tang Shaoheng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 (USA)
| | - Hsieh Jer-Tsong
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390 (USA)
| | - Zheng Jie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 (USA)
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390 (USA)
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Fan L, Wang S, He X, Gonzalez‐Fernandez E, Lechene C, Fan F, Roman RJ. Visualization of the intrarenal distribution of capillary blood flow. Physiol Rep 2019; 7:e14065. [PMID: 31008571 PMCID: PMC6475880 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes a modified technique to fill the renal vasculature with a silicon rubber (Microfil) compound and obtain morphologic information about the intrarenal distribution of capillary blood flow under a variety of conditions. Kidneys and cremaster muscles of rats were perfused in vivo with Microfil using a perfusion pressure equal to the animal's mean arterial pressure at body temperature. Microfil did not alter arteriolar diameter or the pattern of flow in the microcirculation of the cremaster muscle. The modified protocol reproducibly filled the renal vasculature, including; glomerular, peritubular, and vasa recta capillaries. We compared the filling of the renal circulation in control rats with that seen in animals subjected to maneuvers reported to alter the intrarenal distribution of blood flow. Infusion of angiotensin II, hypotension, volume expansion, and mannitol- or furosemide-induced diuresis redistributed flow between renal cortical and medullary capillaries. The advantage of the current technique is that it provides anatomical information regarding the number, diameter, and branching patterns of capillaries in the postglomerular circulation critical in determining the intrarenal distribution of cortical and medullary blood flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letao Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterJacksonMississippi
| | - Shaoxun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterJacksonMississippi
| | - Xiaochen He
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterJacksonMississippi
| | | | - Claude Lechene
- Center of NanoimagingBrigham and Women's HospitalCambridgeMassachusetts
| | - Fan Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterJacksonMississippi
| | - Richard J. Roman
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterJacksonMississippi
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Matsushita K, Golgotiu K, Orton DJ, Smith RD, Rodland KD, Piehowski PD, Hutchens MP. Micropuncture of Bowman's Space in Mice Facilitated by 2 Photon Microscopy. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30371667 PMCID: PMC6235460 DOI: 10.3791/58206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal micropuncture and renal 2-photon imaging are seminal techniques in renal physiology. However, micropuncture is limited by dependence on conventional microscopy to surface nephron features, and 2-photon studies are limited in that interventions can only be assessed at the organ, rather than the nephron level. In particular, micropuncture studies of the glomeruli of mice have been challenged by the paucity of surface glomeruli in mice. To address this limitation in order to pursue studies of aspirate from Bowman's space in mouse physiologic models, we developed 2-photon glomerular micropuncture. We present a novel surgical preparation that allows lateral access to the kidney while preserving the required vertical imaging column for 2-photon microscopy. Administration of high molecular weight fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran is used to render the renal vasculature and therefore glomeruli visible for 2-photon imaging. A quantum dot-coated pipette is then introduced under stereotactic guidance to a glomerulus selected from the several to many which may be visualized within the imaging window. In this protocol, we provide details of the preparation, materials, and methods necessary to carry out the procedure. This technique facilitates previously-impossible physiologic study of the kidney, including recovery of filtrate from Bowman's space and all segments of the nephron within the imaging depth limit, about 100 µm below the renal capsule. Pressure, charge and flow may all be measured using the introduced pipette. Here, we provide representative data from liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry performed on aspirate from Bowman's space. We expect this technique to have wide applicability in renal physiologic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kirsti Golgotiu
- Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
| | - Daniel J Orton
- Environmental and Biological Services Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
| | - Richard D Smith
- Environmental and Biological Services Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
| | - Karin D Rodland
- Environmental and Biological Services Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
| | - Paul D Piehowski
- Environmental and Biological Services Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
| | - Michael P Hutchens
- Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University; Operative Care Division, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center;
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Xie L, Koukos G, Barck K, Foreman O, Lee WP, Brendza R, Eastham-Anderson J, McKenzie BS, Peterson A, Carano RAD. Micro-CT imaging and structural analysis of glomeruli in a model of Adriamycin-induced nephropathy. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2018; 316:F76-F89. [PMID: 30256127 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00331.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glomeruli number and size are important for determining the pathogenesis of glomerular disease, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. Moreover, renal injury can occur in specific cortical layers and alter glomerular spatial distribution. In this study, we present a comprehensive structural analysis of glomeruli in a model of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) nephropathy. Glomeruli are imaged (micro-CT at 10 × 10 × 10 μm3) in kidney specimens from C57Bl/6 mouse cohorts: control treated with saline ( n = 9) and Adriamycin treated with 20 mg/kg Adriamycin ( n = 7). Several indices were examined, including glomerular number, glomerular volume, glomerular volume heterogeneity, and spatial density at each glomerulus and in each cortical layer (superficial, midcortical, and juxtamedullary). In the Adriamycin-treated animals, glomerular number decreased significantly in the left kidney [control: 8,298 ± 221, Adriamycin: 6,781 ± 630 (mean ± SE)] and right kidney (control: 7,317 ± 367, Adriamycin: 5,522 ± 508), and glomerular volume heterogeneity increased significantly in the left kidney (control: 0.642 ± 0.015, Adriamycin: 0.786 ± 0.018) and right kidney (control: 0.739 ± 0.016, Adriamycin: 0.937 ± 0.023). Glomerular spatial density was not affected. Glomerular volume heterogeneity increased significantly in the superficial and midcortical layers of the Adriamycin cohort. Adriamycin did not affect glomerular volume or density metrics in the juxtamedullary region, suggesting a compensatory mechanism of juxtamedullary glomeruli to injury in the outer cortical layers. Left/right asymmetry was observed in kidney size and various glomeruli metrics. The methods presented here can be used to evaluate renal disease models with subtle changes in glomerular endowment locally or across the entire kidney, and they provide an imaging tool to investigate diverse interventions and therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Xie
- Biomedical Imaging, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | - Georgios Koukos
- Molecular Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | - Kai Barck
- Biomedical Imaging, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | - Oded Foreman
- Pathology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | - Wyne P Lee
- Translation Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | - Robert Brendza
- Neuroscience, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | | | - Brent S McKenzie
- Translation Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
| | - Andrew Peterson
- Molecular Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California
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Hlushchuk R, Haberthür D, Djonov V. Ex vivo microangioCT: Advances in microvascular imaging. Vascul Pharmacol 2018; 112:2-7. [PMID: 30248380 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic modulation of angiogenesis is believed to be a prospective powerful treatment strategy to modulate the microcirculation and therefore help millions of patients with cardiovascular and cancer diseases. The often-frustrating results from late-stage clinical studies indicate an urgent need for improved assessment of the pro- and anti-angiogenic compounds in preclinical stage of investigation. For such a proper assessment, detailed vascular visualization and adequate quantification are essential. Nowadays, there are few imaging modalities available, but none of them provides non-destructive 3D-visualization of the vasculature down to the capillary level. In many instances, the approaches cannot be combined with the subsequent histological or ultrastructural analysis. In this review, we address the latest developments in the microvascular imaging, namely, the microangioCT approach with a polymer-based contrast agent (μAngiofil). This approach allows time-efficient non-destructive 3D-imaging of the organ and its vasculature including the finest capillaries. Besides the superior visualization, the obtained detailed 3D information on the organ vasculature enables its 3D-skeletonization and further quantitative analysis. Probably the only significant limitation of the described approach is that it can be used only ex vivo, i.e., no longitudinal studies. In spite of this drawback, microangioCT with μAngiofil is a relatively simple and straightforward tool with a broad application range for studying physiological and pathological alterations in the microvasculature of any organ. It provides microvascular imaging at unprecedented level and enables correlative microscopy.
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Hlushchuk R, Zubler C, Barré S, Correa Shokiche C, Schaad L, Röthlisberger R, Wnuk M, Daniel C, Khoma O, Tschanz SA, Reyes M, Djonov V. Cutting-edge microangio-CT: new dimensions in vascular imaging and kidney morphometry. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2017; 314:F493-F499. [PMID: 29167169 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00099.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, the contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging of a whole animal kidney became increasingly important. The visualization was mainly limited to middle-sized vessels. Since modern desktop micro-CT scanners provide the necessary detail resolution, we developed an approach for rapid visualization and consistent assessment of kidney vasculature and glomeruli number. This method is based on μAngiofil, a new polymerizing contrast agent with homogenous X-ray absorption, which provides continuous filling of the complete vasculature and enables correlative imaging approaches. For rapid and reliable kidney morphometry, the microangio-CT (µaCT) data sets from glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)+/- mice and their wild-type littermates were used. The results were obtained much faster compared with the current gold standard, histology-based stereology, and without processing artifacts. The histology-based morphometry was done afterward on the same kidneys. Both approaches revealed that the GDNF+/- male mice had about 40% fewer glomeruli. Furthermore, our approach allows for the definition of sites of interest for further histological investigation, i.e., correlative morphology. The polymerized μAngiofil stays in perfused vessels and is autofluorescent, which is what greatly facilitates the matching of histological sections with µaCT data. The presented approach is a time-efficient, reliable, qualitative, and quantitative methodology. Besides glomerular morphometry, the µaCT data can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the kidney vasculature and correlative morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cédric Zubler
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Barré
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | - Carlos Correa Shokiche
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland.,Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | - Laura Schaad
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | | | - Monika Wnuk
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | - Christoph Daniel
- Department of Nephropathology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen , Germany
| | - Oleksiy Khoma
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | | | - Mauricio Reyes
- Institute for Surgical Technology and Biomechanics, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
| | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern , Bern , Switzerland
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O'Neill M, Huang GO, Lamb DJ. Novel Application of Micro-Computerized Tomography for Morphologic Characterization of the Murine Penis. J Sex Med 2017; 14:1533-1539. [PMID: 29153581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.10.065] [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: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The murine penis model has enriched our understanding of anomalous penile development. The morphologic characterization of the murine penis using conventional serial sectioning methods is labor intensive and prone to errors. AIM To develop a novel application of micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) with iodine staining for rapid, non-destructive morphologic study of murine penis structure. METHODS Penises were dissected from 10 adult wild-type mice and imaged using micro-CT with iodine staining. Images were acquired at 5-μm spatial resolution on a Bruker SkyScan 1272 micro-CT system. After images were acquired, the specimens were washed of any remaining iodine and embedded in paraffin for conventional histologic examination. Histologic and micro-CT measurements for all specimens were made by 2 independent observers. OUTCOMES Measurements of penile structures were made on virtual micro-CT sections and histologic slides. RESULTS The Lin concordance correlation coefficient demonstrated almost perfect strength of agreement for interobserver variability for histologic section (0.9995, 95% CI = 0.9990-0.9997) and micro-CT section (0.9982, 95% CI = 0.9963-0.9991) measurements. Bland-Altman analysis for agreement between the 2 modalities of measurement demonstrated mean differences of -0.029, 0.022, and -0.068 mm for male urogenital mating protuberance, baculum, and penile glans length, respectively. There did not appear to be a bias for overestimation or underestimation of measured lengths and limits of agreement were narrow. CLINICAL TRANSLATION The enhanced ability offered by micro-CT to phenotype the murine penis has the potential to improve translational studies examining the molecular pathways contributing to anomalous penile development. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS The present study describes the first reported use of micro-CT with iodine staining for imaging the murine penis. Producing repeated histologic sections of identical orientation was limited by inherent imperfections in mounting and tissue sectioning, but this was compensated for by using micro-CT reconstructions to identify matching virtual sections. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the successful use of micro-CT with iodine staining, which has the potential for submicron spatial resolution, as a non-destructive method of characterizing murine penile morphology. O'Neill M, Huang GO, Lamb DJ. Novel Application of Micro-Computerized Tomography for Morphologic Characterization of the Murine Penis. J Sex Med 2017;14:1533-1539.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol O'Neill
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gene O Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dolores J Lamb
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Erbium-Based Perfusion Contrast Agent for Small-Animal Microvessel Imaging. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2017; 2017:7368384. [PMID: 29270099 PMCID: PMC5705880 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7368384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) facilitates the visualization and quantification of contrast-enhanced microvessels within intact tissue specimens, but conventional preclinical vascular contrast agents may be inadequate near dense tissue (such as bone). Typical lead-based contrast agents do not exhibit optimal X-ray absorption properties when used with X-ray tube potentials below 90 kilo-electron volts (keV). We have developed a high-atomic number lanthanide (erbium) contrast agent, with a K-edge at 57.5 keV. This approach optimizes X-ray absorption in the output spectral band of conventional microfocal spot X-ray tubes. Erbium oxide nanoparticles (nominal diameter < 50 nm) suspended in a two-part silicone elastomer produce a perfusable fluid with viscosity of 19.2 mPa-s. Ultrasonic cavitation was used to reduce aggregate sizes to <70 nm. Postmortem intact mice were perfused to investigate the efficacy of contrast agent. The observed vessel contrast was >4000 Hounsfield units, and perfusion of vessels < 10 μm in diameter was demonstrated in kidney glomeruli. The described new contrast agent facilitated the visualization and quantification of vessel density and microarchitecture, even adjacent to dense bone. Erbium's K-edge makes this contrast agent ideally suited for both single- and dual-energy micro-CT, expanding potential preclinical research applications in models of musculoskeletal, oncological, cardiovascular, and neurovascular diseases.
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Palygin O, Ilatovskaya DV, Levchenko V, Endres BT, Geurts AM, Staruschenko A. Nitric oxide production by glomerular podocytes. Nitric Oxide 2017; 72:24-31. [PMID: 29128399 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Nitric Oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator and vital signaling molecule, has been shown to contribute to the regulation of glomerular ultrafiltration. However, whether changes in NO occur in podocytes during the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension has not yet been thoroughly examined. We showed here that podocytes produce NO, and further hypothesized that hypertensive animals would exhibit reduced NO production in these cells in response to various paracrine factors, which might contribute to the damage of glomeruli filtration barrier and development of proteinuria. To test this, we isolated glomeruli from the kidneys of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats fed a low salt (LS; 0.4% NaCl) or high salt (HS; 4% NaCl, 3 weeks) diets and loaded podocytes with either a combination of NO and Ca2+ fluorophores (DAF-FM and Fura Red, respectively) or DAF-FM alone. Changes in fluorescence were observed with confocal microscopy in response to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), angiotensin II (Ang II), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Application of Ang II resulted in activation of both NO and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients. In contrast, ATP promoted [Ca2+]i transients, but did not have any effects on NO production. SS rats fed a HS diet for 3 weeks demonstrated impaired NO production: the response to Ang II or H2O2 in podocytes of glomeruli isolated from SS rats fed a HS diet was significantly reduced compared to rats fed a LS diet. Therefore, glomerular podocytes from hypertensive rats showed a diminished NO release in response to Ang II or oxidative stress, suggesting that podocytic NO signaling is dysfunctional in this condition and likely contributes to the development of kidney injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Palygin
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Daria V Ilatovskaya
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Vladislav Levchenko
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Bradley T Endres
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Aron M Geurts
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Correlative Imaging of the Murine Hind Limb Vasculature and Muscle Tissue by MicroCT and Light Microscopy. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41842. [PMID: 28169309 PMCID: PMC5294414 DOI: 10.1038/srep41842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A detailed vascular visualization and adequate quantification is essential for the proper assessment of novel angiomodulating strategies. Here, we introduce an ex vivo micro-computed tomography (microCT)-based imaging approach for the 3D visualization of the entire vasculature down to the capillary level and rapid estimation of the vascular volume and vessel size distribution. After perfusion with μAngiofil®, a novel polymerizing contrast agent, low- and high-resolution scans (voxel side length: 2.58–0.66 μm) of the entire vasculature were acquired. Based on the microCT data, sites of interest were defined and samples further processed for correlative morphology. The solidified, autofluorescent μAngiofil® remained in the vasculature and allowed co-registering of the histological sections with the corresponding microCT-stack. The perfusion efficiency of μAngiofil® was validated based on lectin-stained histological sections: 98 ± 0.5% of the blood vessels were μAngiofil®-positive, whereas 93 ± 2.6% were lectin-positive. By applying this approach we analyzed the angiogenesis induced by the cell-based delivery of a controlled VEGF dose. Vascular density increased by 426% mainly through the augmentation of medium-sized vessels (20–40 μm). The introduced correlative and quantitative imaging approach is highly reproducible and allows a detailed 3D characterization of the vasculature and muscle tissue. Combined with histology, a broad range of complementary structural information can be obtained.
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Cao Y, Zhou Y, Ni S, Wu T, Li P, Liao S, Hu J, Lu H. Three Dimensional Quantification of Microarchitecture and Vessel Regeneration by Synchrotron Radiation Microcomputed Tomography in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 2016; 34:1187-1199. [PMID: 27676128 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A full understanding of the mechanisms behind spinal cord injury (SCI) processes requires reliable three-dimensional (3D) imaging tools for a thorough analysis of changes in angiospatial architecture. We aimed to use synchrotron radiation μCT (SRμCT) to characterize 3D temporal-spatial changes in microvasculature post-SCI. Morphometrical measurements revealed a significant decrease in vascular volume fraction, vascular bifurcation density, vascular segment density, and vascular connectivity density 1 day post-injury, followed by a gradual increase at 3, 7, and 14 days. At 1 day post-injury, SRμCT revealed an increase in vascular tortuosity (VT), which reached a plateau after 7 days and decreased slightly during the healing process. In addition, SRμCT images showed that vessels were largely concentrated in the gray matter 1 day post-injury. The maximal endothelial cell proliferation rate was detected at 7 days post-injury. The 3D morphology of the cavity appears in the spinal cord at 28 days post-injury. We describe a methodology for 3D analysis of vascular repair in SCI and reveal that endogenous revascularization occurs during the healing process. The spinal cord microvasculature configuration undergoes 3D remodeling and modification during the post-injury repair process. Examination of these processes might contribute to a full understanding of the compensatory vascular mechanisms after injury and aid in the development of novel and effective treatment for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Cao
- 1 Department of Spine Surgery, Central South University , Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, China
| | - Shuangfei Ni
- 1 Department of Spine Surgery, Central South University , Changsha, China
| | - Tianding Wu
- 1 Department of Spine Surgery, Central South University , Changsha, China
| | - Ping Li
- 1 Department of Spine Surgery, Central South University , Changsha, China
| | - Shenghui Liao
- 3 School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University , Changsha, Changsha, China
| | - Jianzhong Hu
- 1 Department of Spine Surgery, Central South University , Changsha, China
| | - Hongbin Lu
- 4 Department of Sports Medicine, Research Centre of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, China
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