title: In vivo visualization of bonghan ducts inside blood vessels of mice by using an Alcian blue staining method.
abstract: An in vivo method using Alcian blue (AB) was developed for visualizing floating threadlike tissues inside blood vessels of mice. These novel structures called intravascular Bonghan ducts (IBHDs) are considered as extension of acupuncture meridians. For in vivo imaging of IBHDs, AB solution (pH 7.4) that stains mucopolysaccharides like hyaluronic acid was used. After injecting AB solution into the femoral vein of a mouse, the threadlike structures, stained deep blue, inside the inferior vena cava. The histological results, such as hematoxylin, eosin, and AB staining, show the compositions of the cells and the extracellular matrix in the IBHD. Further studies are needed to investigate their physiological functions, especially in relation with those of other circulatory systems.
authors.affiliation: Frontier Physics Research Division & Biomedical Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Min Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Vyacheslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ogay
authors.forename: Kwang-Sup
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Soh
mesh_terms: D000423:Alcian Blue / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000473:pathology; D006416:Hematoxylin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D011419:Propidium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011419:Propidium; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D000423:Alcian Blue; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin