Two-photon microscopy on vital carotid arteries: imaging the relationship between collagen and inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic plaques

Remco T. A. Megens; Mirjam G. A. oude Egbrink; Maarten Merkx; Dick W. Slaaf; Marc M. J. van Zandvoort

doi:10.1117/1.2965542

1 July 2008 Two-photon microscopy on vital carotid arteries: imaging the relationship between collagen and inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic plaques

Remco T. A. Megens, Mirjam G. A. oude Egbrink, Maarten Merkx, Dick W. Slaaf, Marc M. J. van Zandvoort

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 13, Issue 4, 044022 (July 2008). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2965542

Abstract

We used two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM) to demonstrate for the first time its potential in studying relational details at the cellular level of atherogenesis in intact, viable mouse carotid arteries. Isolated and mounted arteries of ApoE-/-mice, aged 15 or 21 weeks (7 and 13 weeks on western diet), were imaged after labeling with specific fluorescent markers for cell nuclei, inflammatory cells, collagen, and lipids. Data were compared with C57BL6/J mice fed a chow diet. Control vessels had intact endothelium without adhering blood cells or significant intimal collagen labeling. In ApoE-/-mice already at 15 weeks, inflammatory cells adhered to the endothelium and increased labeling of collagen was observed in tunica intima at both lesion-prone and non-lesion-prone sites, indicating endothelium activation. In plaques, internalized inflammatory cell density increased with age and plaque progression in tunicae adventitia and intima, but not media. In the whole plaque, aging or plaque progression did not alter the direct relationship between inflammatory cells and collagen. However, within the fibrous caps specifically, direct contact between inflammatory cells and collagen increased with age. This study demonstrates the potential of TPLSM in determining detailed information regarding the complex relationship between inflammatory cells and collagen during atherogenesis.

©(2008) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Remco T. A. Megens, Mirjam G. A. oude Egbrink, Maarten Merkx, Dick W. Slaaf, and Marc M. J. van Zandvoort "Two-photon microscopy on vital carotid arteries: imaging the relationship between collagen and inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic plaques," Journal of Biomedical Optics 13(4), 044022 (1 July 2008). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2965542

Published: 1 July 2008

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