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Abstract

Immunology and Infection

Intravital Widefield Fluorescence Microscopy of Pulmonary Microcirculation in Experimental Acute Lung Injury Using a Vacuum-Stabilized Imaging System

Published: April 6th, 2022

DOI:

10.3791/63733

1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, 3Department of Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 4Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5Live Cell Imaging Center, University of Calgary, 6Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, 7Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, 8Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University

Abstract

Intravital imaging of leukocyte-endothelial interactions offers valuable insights into immune-mediated disease in live animals. The study of acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other respiratory pathologies in vivo is difficult due to the limited accessibility and inherent motion artifacts of the lungs. Nonetheless, various approaches have been developed to overcome these challenges. This protocol describes a method for intravital fluorescence microscopy to study real-time leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the pulmonary microcirculation in an experimental model of ALI. An in vivo lung imaging system and 3-D printed intravital microscopy platform are used to secure the anesthetized mouse and stabilize the lung while minimizing confounding lung injury. Following preparation, widefield fluorescence microscopy is used to study leukocyte adhesion, leukocyte rolling, and capillary function. While the protocol presented here focuses on imaging in an acute model of inflammatory lung disease, it may also be adapted to study other pathological and physiological processes in the lung.

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Keywords Intravital Microscopy

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