Cerebrovascular development: mechanisms and experimental approaches

Abstract

The cerebral vasculature plays a central role in human health and disease and possesses several unique anatomic, functional and molecular characteristics. Despite their importance, the mechanisms that determine cerebrovascular development are less well studied than other vascular territories. This is in part due to limitations of existing models and techniques for visualisation and manipulation of the cerebral vasculature. In this review we summarise the experimental approaches used to study the cerebral vessels and the mechanisms that contribute to their development.

The effect of absent blood flow on the zebrafish cerebral and trunk vasculature

“…Once established blood vessels are established, also their EC properties and functions rely on blood flow, as it was previously shown regarding maintenance (Bussmann et al, 2011;Chico and Kugler, 2021;Neto et al, 2018;Packham et al, 2009), polarity (Franco et al, 2016;Kwon et al, 2016), and kugeln (Kugler et al, 2019b).…”

“…Once established blood vessels are established, also their EC properties and functions rely on blood flow, as it was previously shown regarding maintenance ( 7 , 62 , 63 , 68 ), polarity ( 66 , 69 ), and kugeln ( 9 ).…”

“…Critically, our work shows that vessel identity affects cell response to flow and that this is furthermore impacted by the vascular bed. Thus, we suggest that even though genetic factors establish vascular identity prior to blood flow ( 64 , 65 ), the fine-tuning of vascular response is likely to be caused by extrinsic vascular-bed-specific signaling molecules or biochemical cues ( 7 ).…”

“…Cerebral EC dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms, and stroke (Feigin Valery L. et al, 2017;Lackland and Weber, 2015). Increasing evidence suggests ECs display different molecular and functional properties according to their anatomical site such as the cerebral or trunk vessels (Abbott et al, 2010;Chico and Kugler, 2021;Huntley et al, 2014;Kugler et al, 2019b;Vanlandewijck et al, 2018). This highlights the importance of studying the responses of multiple vascular in development and territories to experimental manipulations.…”

Automation of Organoid Cultures: Current Protocols and Applications

“…Although animal models and 2D culture systems have significantly advanced our understanding of human brain development and neurological disorders, they have limitations. 100,101 Consequently, the generation of cerebral organoids that contain brain-specific cells and resemble the developing human brain has provided a novel tool for brain research. 102 However, as with all organoids, cerebral organoids do not perfectly model the human brain and face considerable limitations, such as the lack of reproducibility and long culturing times.…”