Imaging Vital and Non-vital Brain Pericytes in Brain Slices following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Summary

The preliminary inquiry confirms that subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes brain pericyte demise. Evaluating pericyte contractility post-SAH requires differentiation between viable and non-viable brain pericytes. Hence, a procedure has been developed to label viable and non-viable brain pericytes concurrently in brain sections, facilitating observation using a high-resolution confocal microscope.

Abstract

Pericytes are crucial mural cells situated within cerebral microcirculation, pivotal in actively modulating cerebral blood flow via contractility adjustments. Conventionally, their contractility is gauged by observing morphological shifts and nearby capillary diameter changes under specific circumstances. Yet, post-tissue fixation, evaluating vitality and ensuing pericyte contractility of imaged brain pericytes becomes compromised. Similarly, genetically labeling brain pericytes falls short in distinguishing between viable and non-viable pericytes, particularly in neurologic conditions like subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), where our preliminary investigation validates brain pericyte demise. A reliable protocol has been devised to surmount these constraints, enabling simultaneous fluorescent tagging of both functional and non-functional brain pericytes in brain sections. This labeling method allows high-resolution confocal microscope visualization, concurrently marking the brain slice microvasculature. This innovative protocol offers a means to appraise brain pericyte contractility, its impact on capillary diameter, and pericyte structure. Investigating brain pericyte contractility within the SAH context yields insightful comprehension of its effects on cerebral microcirculation.

Introduction

Brain pericytes, distinguished by their slender protuberances and protruding cell bodies, encircle the microcirculation^1,2. While cerebral blood flow augmentation is predominantly driven by capillary dilation, smaller arteries exhibit slower rates of dilation³. Pericyte contractility exerts influence over capillary diameter and pericyte morphology, impacting vascular dynamics⁴. Contraction of brain pericytes leads to capillary constriction, and in pathological scenarios, excessive contraction may impede erythrocyte flow⁵. Various factors, ....

Protocol

The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics and Use Committee of Kunming Medical University (kmmu20220945). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats of both sexes, 300-350 g, were used for the present study.

1. Inducing the SAH model

1. Anesthetize the rats using 2% isoflurane and 100% oxygen. Maintain anesthesia by supplying continuous inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane (1%-3%). Secure the rat's head using a stereotaxic apparatus (see Table of Material.......

Discussion

Developed are high-resolution confocal imaging techniques for visualizing vital brain pericytes, non-vital brain pericytes, and the microvasculature in brain slices. In acute rat brain slices, the process entails initial labeling of pericytes with TO-PRO-3¹¹, followed by microvascular endothelial cells with IB4¹²; subsequently, identification of deceased pericytes is conducted using PI. This protocol is straightforward, reproducible, and highly applicable for functional res.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
6-well plate	ABC biochemistry	ABC703006	RT
Adobe Photoshop	Adobe	Adobe Illustrator CS6 16.0.0	RT
Aluminium foil	MIAOJIE	225 mm x 273 mm	RT
CaCl2·2H2O	Sigma-Aldrich	C3881	RT
Confocal imaging software	Nikon	NIS-Elements 4.10.00	RT
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope	Nikon	N-SIM/C2si	RT
Gas tank (5% CO2, 95% O2)	PENGYIDA	40L	RT
Glass Bottom Confocal Dishes	Beyotime	FCFC020-10pcs	RT
Glucose	Sigma-Aldrich	G5767	RT
Glue	EVOBOND	KH-502	RT
Ice machine	XUEKE	IMS-20	RT
Image analysis software	National Institutes of Health	Image J	RT
Inhalation anesthesia system	SCIENCE	QAF700	RT
Isolectin B 4-FITC	SIGMA	L2895–2MG	Store aliquots at –20 °C
KCl	Sigma-Aldrich	7447–40–7	RT
KH2PO4	Sigma-Aldrich	P0662	RT
MgSO4	Sigma-Aldrich	M7506	RT
NaCl	Sigma-Aldrich	7647–14–5	RT
NaH2PO4·H2O	Sigma-Aldrich	10049–21–5	RT
NaHCO3	Sigma-Aldrich	S5761	RT
Pasteur pipette	NEST Biotechnology	318314	RT
Peristaltic Pump	Scientific Industries Inc	Model 203	RT
Propidium (Iodide)	Med Chem Express	HY-D0815/CS-7538	Store aliquots at –20 °C
Stereotaxic apparatus	SCIENCE	QA	RT
Syringe pump	Harvard PUMP	PUMP 11 ELITE Nanomite	RT
Thermostatic water bath	OLABO	HH-2	RT
Vibrating microtome	Leica	VT1200	RT