title: Ultra-high-resolution 3D digitalized imaging of the cerebral angioarchitecture in rats using synchrotron radiation.
abstract: The angioarchitecture is a fundamental aspect of brain development and physiology. However, available imaging tools are unsuited for non-destructive cerebral mapping of the functionally important three-dimensional (3D) vascular microstructures. To address this issue, we developed an ultra-high resolution 3D digitalized angioarchitectural map for rat brain, based on synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging (SR-PCI) with pixel size of 5.92 μm. This approach provides a systematic and detailed view of the cerebrovascular anatomy at the micrometer level without any need for contrast agents. From qualitative and quantitative perspectives, the present 3D data provide a considerable insight into the spatial vascular network for whole rodent brain, particularly for functionally important regions of interest, such as the hippocampus, pre-frontal cerebral cortex and the corpus striatum. We extended these results to synchrotron-based virtual micro-endoscopy, thus revealing the trajectory of targeted vessels in 3D. The SR-PCI method for systematic visualization of cerebral microvasculature holds considerable promise for wider application in life sciences, including 3D micro-imaging in experimental models of neurodevelopmental and vascular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Qi
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangdong Hospital, Hunan Normal University, Zhuzhou 412200, China.
authors.forename: Qian-Fang
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
authors.forename: Ti-Qiao
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ze
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Delivery System, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province China.
authors.forename: Xu-Meng
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Delivery System, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Zhen
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed