Fluorescent microangiography (FMA): an improved tool to visualize the pulmonary microvasculature

Visualization of the complex lung microvasculature and resolution of its three-dimensional architecture remains a difficult experimental challenge. We present a novel fluorescent microscopy technique to visualize both the normal and diseased pulmonary microvasculature. Physiologically relevant pulmo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Laboratory investigation 2006-04, Vol.86 (4), p.409-416
Main Authors: Dutly, Andre E, Kugathasan, Lakshmi, Trogadis, Judy E, Keshavjee, Shaf H, Stewart, Duncan J, Courtman, David W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
confocal microscopy
Fluorescein Angiography - methods
Fluorescent Antibody Technique - methods
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hypertension, Pulmonary - pathology
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Laboratory Medicine
Lung - blood supply
Lung - pathology
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Microcirculation - diagnostic imaging
Microscopy, Confocal - methods
microvasculature
Pathology
pulmonary hypertension
Radiography
Rats
technical-report
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Summary:Visualization of the complex lung microvasculature and resolution of its three-dimensional architecture remains a difficult experimental challenge. We present a novel fluorescent microscopy technique to visualize both the normal and diseased pulmonary microvasculature. Physiologically relevant pulmonary perfusion conditions were applied using a low-viscosity perfusate infused under continuous airway ventilation. Intensely fluorescent polystyrene microspheres, confined to the vascular space, were imaged through confocal optical sectioning of 200 μm-thick lung sections. We applied this technique to rat lungs and the markedly enhanced depth of field in projected images allowed us to follow vascular branching patterns in both normal lungs and lungs from animals with experimentally induced pulmonary arterial hypertension. In addition, this method allowed complementary immunostaining and identification of cellular components surrounding the blood vessels. Fluorescent microangiography is a widely applicable and quantitative tool for the study of vascular changes in animal models of pulmonary disease.
ISSN:0023-6837
1530-0307
DOI:10.1038/labinvest.3700399