Name: longitudinal in vivo imaging of the cerebrovasculature: relevance to cns diseases
Uploaded: 2016-12-06T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge the Ligue Francaise contre l&#39;&#233;pilepsie (to M.A-L), Institut National de la Sant&#233; et de la Recherche M&#233;dicale Grant AVENIR R12087FS (to F.J), grant from the university of Montpellier (to F.J) and grant from Federation pour la Recherche sur le Cerveau (to N.M). We acknowledge the technical assistance of Chrystel Lafont at the IPAM in vivo imaging core platform facility of Montpellier. We also thank Mary Vernov (Weill Cornell Medical College) for proofreading the manuscript.

Mice are allowed ad libitum access to food, water, and maintained on a 12-hr light-dark cycle. All procedures involving laboratory animals conformed to National and European laws and were approved by the French Ministry for Education and Scientific Research (CEEA-LR-00651-01). A total of 6 transgenic 5xFAD and 4 littermate wildtype (WT) control mice were used for this procedure.
1. Pre-operative Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Intraperitoneally (IP) inject Methoxy-X04 (10 mg/kg) 48 hr before surgery to label A&#9...

<ol>
	<li>Harb, R., Whiteus, C., Freitas, C., Grutzendler, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+imaging+of+cerebral+microvascular+plasticity+from+birth+to+death.">In vivo imaging of cerebral microvascular plasticity from birth to death.</a> J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 33 (1), 146-156 (2013).</li><li>Whiteus, C., Freitas, C., Grutzendler, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Perturbed+neural+activity+disrupts+cerebral+angiogenesis+during+a+postnatal+critical+period.">Perturbed neural activity disrupts cerebral angiogenesis during a postnatal critical period.</a> Nature. 505 (7483), 407-411 (2014).</li><li>Masamoto, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microvascular+sprouting,+extension,+and+creation+of+new+capillary+connections+with+adaptation+of+the+neighboring+astrocytes+in+adult+mouse+cortex+under+chronic+hypoxia.">Microvascular sprouting, extension, and creation of new capillary connections with adaptation of the neighboring astrocytes in adult mouse cortex under chronic hypoxia.</a> J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 34 (2), 325-331 (2014).</li><li>Marchi, N., Lerner-Natoli, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cerebrovascular+remodeling+and+epilepsy.">Cerebrovascular remodeling and epilepsy.</a> Neuroscientist. 19 (3), 304-312 (2013).</li><li>Giannoni, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cerebrovascular+pathology+during+the+progression+of+experimental+Alzheimer's+disease.">Cerebrovascular pathology during the progression of experimental Alzheimer's disease.</a> Neurobiol Dis. 88, 107-117 (2016).</li><li>Kimbrough, I. F., Robel, S., Roberson, E. D., Sontheimer, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vascular+amyloidosis+impairs+the+gliovascular+unit+in+a+mouse+model+of+Alzheimer's+disease.">Vascular amyloidosis impairs the gliovascular unit in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.</a> Brain. 138 (Pt 12), 3716-3733 (2015).</li><li>Herzig, M. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Abeta+is+targeted+to+the+vasculature+in+a+mouse+model+of+hereditary+cerebral+hemorrhage+with+amyloidosis.">Abeta is targeted to the vasculature in a mouse model of hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis.</a> Nat Neurosci. 7 (9), 954-960 (2004).</li><li>Oakley, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intraneuronal+beta-amyloid+aggregates,+neurodegeneration,+and+neuron+loss+in+transgenic+mice+with+five+familial+Alzheimer's+disease+mutations:+potential+factors+in+amyloid+plaque+formation.">Intraneuronal beta-amyloid aggregates, neurodegeneration, and neuron loss in transgenic mice with five familial Alzheimer's disease mutations: potential factors in amyloid plaque formation.</a> J Neurosci. 26 (40), 10129-10140 (2006).</li><li>Liston, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+glucocorticoid+oscillations+promote+learning-dependent+synapse+formation+and+maintenance.">Circadian glucocorticoid oscillations promote learning-dependent synapse formation and maintenance.</a> Nat Neurosci. 16 (6), 698-705 (2013).</li><li>Yang, G., Pan, F., Parkhurst, C. N., Grutzendler, J., Gan, W. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thinned-skull+cranial+window+technique+for+long-term+imaging+of+the+cortex+in+live+mice.">Thinned-skull cranial window technique for long-term imaging of the cortex in live mice.</a> Nat Protoc. 5 (2), 201-208 (2010).</li><li>Klunk, W. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+Abeta+plaques+in+living+transgenic+mice+with+multiphoton+microscopy+and+methoxy-X04,+a+systemically+administered+Congo+red+derivative.">Imaging Abeta plaques in living transgenic mice with multiphoton microscopy and methoxy-X04, a systemically administered Congo red derivative.</a> J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 61 (9), 797-805 (2002).</li><li>Yardeni, T., Eckhaus, M., Morris, H. D., Huizing, M., Hoogstraten-Miller, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retro-orbital+injections+in+mice.">Retro-orbital injections in mice.</a> Lab Anim (NY). 40 (5), 155-160 (2011).</li><li>Cao, V. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+two-photon+imaging+of+experience-dependent+molecular+changes+in+cortical+neurons.">In vivo two-photon imaging of experience-dependent molecular changes in cortical neurons.</a> J Vis Exp. (71), (2013).</li><li>Holtmaat, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long+term,+high-resolution+imaging+in+the+mouse+neocortex+through+a+chronic+cranial+window.">Long term, high-resolution imaging in the mouse neocortex through a chronic cranial window.</a> Nat Protoc. 4 (8), 1128-1144 (2009).</li><li>Heppner, F. L., Ransohoff, R. M., Becher, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immune+attack:+the+role+of+inflammation+in+Alzheimer+disease.">Immune attack: the role of inflammation in Alzheimer disease.</a> Nat Rev Neurosci. 16 (6), 358-372 (2015).</li><li>Marker, D. F., Tremblay, M. E., Lu, S. M., Majewska, A. K., Gelbard, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+thin-skull+window+technique+for+chronic+two-photon+in+vivo+imaging+of+murine+microglia+in+models+of+neuroinflammation.">A thin-skull window technique for chronic two-photon in vivo imaging of murine microglia in models of neuroinflammation.</a> J Vis Exp. (43), (2010).</li><li>Joseph-Mathurin, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amyloid+beta+immunization+worsens+iron+deposits+in+the+choroid+plexus+and+cerebral+microbleeds.">Amyloid beta immunization worsens iron deposits in the choroid plexus and cerebral microbleeds.</a> Neurobiol Aging. 34 (11), 2613-2622 (2013).</li><li>Sadowski, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+prion+amyloid+deposits+in+vivo.">Targeting prion amyloid deposits in vivo.</a> J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 63 (7), 775-784 (2004).</li></ol>

The open-skull technique for in vivo two-photon microscopy offers the advantage of unlimited imaging sessions of large imaging fields13,14. However, this technique also produces inflammation in the region of interest14, often incompatible or impacting neuro-vascular read-outs15. On the contrary, the thinned skull transcranial technique does not result in neuro-inflammation, enabling reliable imaging of the cerebrovascular structures and plaque accumulation10,14. A seco...

The brain vasculature is a multi-cellular structure, which is anatomically and functionally coupled to neurons. A dynamic remodeling of vessels occurs throughout brain development and during the progression of pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS) 1,2. It is widely accepted that cerebrovascular damage is a hallmark of several CNS diseases, including epilepsy, Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD), traumatic brain injury and encephalitis 3,4. Therefore, tracking cerebrovascular changes in vivo becomes significant when modeling CNS diseases, from onset and into chronic phases. As cerebrovascular modifications often occur concomitantly with neuronal damage or plasticity, imaging of the neuro-vasculature represents a key entry point to decipher CNS disease pathophysiology.
This protocol describes a longitudinal two-photon based procedure to track the remodeling of the cerebrovasculature in a mouse model of AD, a progressive pathology marked by cerebrovascular defects on large and small caliber vessels due to amyloidogenic plaque deposition 5-7. This procedure allows for the visualization of amyloid deposits and tracking of their position and growth with respect to neurovascular remodeling throughout the course of the disease. Vital fluorescent dyes are injected before each imaging session for the visualization of the cerebrovasculature and amyloid plaques in transgenic AD mice8. Repeated imaging sessions of a ROI through a thinned skull transcranial window is non-invasive and the method of choice to assess neurovascular remodeling in the living mouse brain 2,5,9,10.
The procedure below outlines the surgical protocol, image acquisition and processing. The early progression of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) mostly at large leptomeningeal and penetrating arterioles is characterized.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="627">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">methoxy-X04</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">tocris</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">4920</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">use 10 mg/Kg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">FITC-Dextran 70Kda</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">sigma</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">46945</td>
			<td>use 100 mg/Kg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">gelfoam/Bloxang</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Bausch and Lomb</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">micorsurgical blade</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">surgistar</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">6900</td>
			<td>must be sharp and not dented</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">povidone-iodine</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">betadine</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>antisceptic solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">binocular stereomicroscope</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">olympus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SX10</td>
			<td>optimal image contrast is crucial for this procedure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">2-photon microscope</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Zeiss LSM 710mp</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">fine scissors-toughcut</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Fine science tools</td>
			<td>14058-09</td>
			<td>this scissors are optimized for cutting skin and soft tissue</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

longitudinal in vivo imaging of the cerebrovasculature: relevance to cns diseases

Remodeling of the brain vasculature is a common trait of brain pathologies. In vivo imaging techniques are fundamental to detect cerebrovascular plasticity or damage occurring overtime and in relation to neuronal activity or blood flow. In vivo two-photon microscopy allows the study of the structural and functional plasticity of large cellular units in the living brain. In particular, the thinned-skull window preparation allows the visualization of cortical regions of interest (ROI) without inducing significant brain inflammation. Repetitive imaging sessions of cortical ROI are feasible, providing the characterization of disease hallmarks over time during the progression of numerous CNS diseases. This technique accessing the pial structures within 250 &#956;m of the brain relies on the detection of fluorescent probes encoded by genetic cellular markers and/or vital dyes. The latter (e.g., fluorescent dextrans) are used to map the luminal compartment of cerebrovascular structures. Germane to the protocol described herein is the use of an in vivo marker of amyloid deposits, Methoxy-O4, to assess Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) progression. We also describe the post-acquisition image processing used to track vascular changes and amyloid depositions. While focusing presently on a model of AD, the described protocol is relevant to other CNS disorders where pathological cerebrovascular changes occur.

This protocol describes a method for visualizing the cerebrovasculature and amyloid deposits overtime. Fluorescent dyes were injected to label amyloid depositions (methoxy-XO4) 11 and to fill the cerebrovascular lumen (FITC-Dextran)1. 3D image analysis software modules were used to create 3D images of a constant field of view captured at consecutive time points. Representative images obtained in the somatosensory cortex of 5XFAD mice5 (genetic model of AD)...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases at JoVE.com

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases

This manuscript describes a procedure to track the remodeling of the cerebrovasculature during amyloid plaque accumulation in vivo using longitudinal two-photon microscopy. A thinned-skull preparation enables the visualization of fluorescent dyes to assess the progression of cerebrovascular damage in a mouse model of Alzheimer&#39;s disease.

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases

Remodeling of the brain vasculature is a common trait of brain pathologies. In vivo imaging techniques are fundamental to detect cerebrovascular ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

The Use of Pharmacological-challenge fMRI in Pre-clinical Research: Application to the 5-HT System

Pharmacological MRI (phMRI) is a new and promising method to study the effects of substances on brain function that can ultimately be used to unravel ...

Intranasal Administration of CNS Therapeutics to Awake Mice

Intranasal administration is a method of delivering  therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). It is  non-invasive and allows large ...

In vivo Macrophage Imaging Using MR Targeted Contrast Agent for Longitudinal Evaluation of Septic Arthritis

In vivo Macrophage Imaging Using MR Targeted Contrast Agent for Longitudinal Evaluation of Septic Arthritis

Macrophages are key-cells in the initiation, the development and the regulation of the inflammatory response to bacterial infection. Macrophages are ...

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques provide information on the microstructural processes of the cerebral white matter (WM) in vivo. The present ...

Transplantation into the Anterior Chamber of the Eye for Longitudinal, Non-invasive In vivo Imaging with Single-cell Resolution in Real-time

Transplantation into the Anterior Chamber of the Eye for Longitudinal, Non-invasive In vivo Imaging with Single-cell Resolution in Real-time

Intravital imaging has emerged as an indispensable tool in biological research.  In the process, many imaging techniques have been developed to study ...

In vivo 19F MRI for Cell Tracking

In vivo 19F MRI for Cell Tracking

In vivo 19F MRI allows quantitative cell tracking without the use of ionizing radiation. It is a noninvasive technique that can be applied to humans. ...

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is considered the gold standard for measurements of central arterial stiffness obtained through noninvasive ...

Acute Brain Trauma in Mice Followed By Longitudinal Two-photon Imaging

Although acute brain trauma often results from head damage in different accidents and affects a substantial fraction of the population, there is no ...

Rose Bengal Photothrombosis by Confocal Optical Imaging In Vivo: A Model of Single Vessel Stroke

Rose Bengal Photothrombosis by Confocal Optical Imaging In Vivo:  A Model of Single Vessel Stroke

In vivo imaging techniques have increased in utilization due to recent advances in imaging dyes and optical technologies, allowing for the ability to ...

Depletion of Mouse Cells from Human Tumor Xenografts Significantly Improves Downstream Analysis of Target Cells

The use of in vitro cell line models for cancer research has been a useful tool. However, it has been shown that these models fail to reliably mimic ...