High-resolution in vivo optical imaging of stroke injury and repair

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) function and dysfunction are best understood within a framework of interactions between neuronal, glial and vascular compartments comprising the neurovascular unit (NVU), all of which contribute to stroke-induced CNS injury, plasticity, repair, and recovery. Recent advances in in vivo optical microscopy have enabled us to observe and interrogate cells and their processes with high spatial resolution in real time and in their natural environment deep in the brain tissue. Here, we review some of these state-of-the-art imaging techniques with an emphasis on imaging the interactions among the constituents of the NVU during ischemic injury and repair in small animal models.

Brain Vascular Imaging Techniques

“…Recently, a wearable system has been developed that is capable of providing images of cerebral blood vessels noninvasively [ 199 ]. Moreover, PAI is a new strategy to visualize and study several brain disorders [ 200 ] including stroke [ 201 , 202 , 203 ], brain tumors [ 204 , 205 , 206 ]; cerebral edema [ 207 ], epilepsy [ 208 ]; traumatic brain injury [ 209 ] and inflammation [ 210 ].…”

Cerebrovascular adaptations to cocaine-induced transient ischemic attacks in the rodent brain

“…Specifically, recent advances in optical imaging techniques (e.g., ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence angiography [μOCA] and Doppler tomography [μODT]) have demonstrated their value for studying ischemic injury and neurovascular dysfunction (10), revascularization after traumatic brain injury (TBI) (11), capillary hypoperfusion after arterial occlusion (12), and microischemia after repeated cocaine exposures (6). Here, we used μODT/μOCA to study cocaine-associated microvascular hypoperfusion, vasoconstriction, and angiogenesis.…”

Transporter-Mediated Delivery of Small Molecule Drugs to the Brain: A Critical Mechanism That Can Advance Therapeutic Development for Ischemic Stroke

“…Instead of acting as independent entities, it is now understood that cellular compartments of the CNS interact directly with the cerebral microvasculature to enable endothelial cells to develop distinct barrier properties and to allow for dynamic BBB responses to pathological stressors. In fact, BBB injury is an early pathological event in ischemic stroke that occurs prior to onset of neuronal damage [35,36]. The pathophysiological mechanisms of BBB dysfunction in ischemic stroke is beyond the scope of this review.…”