A Novel Technique for Visualizing and Analyzing the Cerebral Vasculature in Rodents

Arjang Salehi, Amandine Jullienne, Kara M. Wendel, Mary Hamer, Jiping Tang, John H. Zhang, William J. Pearce, Richard A. DeFazio, Zinaida S. Vexler, Andre Obenaus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We introduce a novel protocol to stain, visualize, and analyze blood vessels from the rat and mouse cerebrum. This technique utilizes the fluorescent dye, DiI, to label the lumen of the vasculature followed by perfusion fixation. Following brain extraction, the labeled vasculature is then imaged using wide-field fluorescence microscopy for axial and coronal images and can be followed by regional confocal microscopy. Axial and coronal images can be analyzed using classical angiographic methods for vessel density, length, and other features. We also have developed a novel fractal analysis to assess vascular complexity. Our protocol has been optimized for adult rat, adult mouse, and neonatal mouse studies. The protocol is efficient, can be rapidly completed, stains cerebral vessels with a bright fluorescence, and provides valuable quantitative data. This method has a broad range of applications, and we demonstrate its use to study the vasculature in assorted models of acquired brain injury.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)216-230
Number of pages15
JournalTranslational Stroke Research
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2019

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Keywords

  • Analysis
  • Rodents
  • Stroke
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Vasculature

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