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01-04-2019 | Methods Paper

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

Authors: 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

Published in: Translational Stroke Research | Issue 2/2019

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.

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Title: A Novel Technique for Visualizing and Analyzing the Cerebral Vasculature in Rodents
Authors: 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
Publication date: 01-04-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Translational Stroke Research / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1868-4483
Electronic ISSN: 1868-601X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-018-0632-0

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

Abstract

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