In vivo optical activation of astrocytes as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases

Yuanxin Chen; James Mancuso; Zhen Zhao; Xuping Li; Zhong Xue; Stephen T. C. Wong

doi:10.1117/12.2004712

8 March 2013 In vivo optical activation of astrocytes as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases

Yuanxin Chen, James Mancuso, Zhen Zhao, Xuping Li, Zhong Xue, Stephen T. C. Wong

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8565, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics IX; 85655K (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004712
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Neurovascular dysfunction in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reduces blood flow to affected brain areas and causes neuronal dysfunction and loss. A new optical imaging technique is developed to activate astrocytes in live animal models in order to investigate the increase of local cerebral blood flow as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. The technique uses fluorescent labeling of vasculature and astrocytes coupled with intravital 2-photon microscopy to visualize the astrocyte-vasculature interactions in live animals. Using femtosecond laser stimulation, calcium uncaging is applied to specifically target and activate astrocytes in vivo with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Intravital 2-photon microscopy imaging was employed to demonstrate that single endfoot optical activation around an arteriole induced a 25% increase in arteriole diameter, which in turn increased cerebral local blood flow in down-stream capillaries. This quantitative result indicates the potential of using optical activation of astrocytes in afflicted brain areas of neurodegeneration to restore normal neurovascular functions.

Citation Download Citation

Yuanxin Chen, James Mancuso, Zhen Zhao, Xuping Li, Zhong Xue, and Stephen T. C. Wong "In vivo optical activation of astrocytes as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases", Proc. SPIE 8565, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics IX, 85655K (8 March 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004712

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available