title: Mechanical Stabilization of Mouse Carotid Artery for In Vivo Intravital Microscopy Imaging of Atherogenesis.
abstract: We present here a procedure that allows real-time high-resolution multichannel imaging of early atherosclerotic lesions of live mice, by dramatically reducing the respiratory and pulsatile movements of the athero-susceptible carotid artery, without significantly altering blood flow dynamics. This surgical preparation can be combined with the use of various fluorescent probes and reporter mice to simultaneously visualize the dynamics of inflammatory leukocytes, platelets, or even subcellular structures. Stabilization of the tissue renders it suitable for two-photon laser scanning microscopic imaging and allows tracking the behavior of inflammatory cells in three dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Atherothrombosis, Imaging and Epidemiology, CNIC (Spanish National Cardiovascular Research Center), C/Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029, Madrid, Spain. raphael.chevre@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chèvre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D000069416:Intravital Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Atherogenesis; Inflammation; Intravital fluorescence microscopy; Leukocyte recruitment; Mouse carotid artery surgery