3D confocal microscope imaging of macromolecule uptake in the intact brachiocephalic artery.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Elevated uptake of plasma macromolecules by the arterial wall is an early event in atherogenesis. Existing optical techniques for detecting macromolecular tracers in the wall have poor depth penetration and hence require en face imaging of flattened arterial segments. Imaging uptake in undistorted curved and branched vessels would be useful in understanding disease development.

Methods

Depth penetration was increased by applying optical clearing techniques. The rat aorto-brachiocephalic junction was imaged intact by confocal microscopy after it had been exposed to circulating rhodamine-labelled albumin in vivo, fixed in situ, excised and then cleared with benzyl alcohol/benzyl benzoate. Tracer uptake was mapped onto a 3D surface mesh of the arterial geome

SUBMITTER: Dazzi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7534415 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature