Organ-wide 3D-imaging and topological analysis of the continuous microvascular network in a murine lymph node.

ABSTRACT: Understanding of the microvasculature has previously been limited by the lack of methods capable of capturing and modelling complete vascular networks. We used novel imaging and computational techniques to establish the topology of the entire blood vessel network of a murine lymph node, combining 63,706 confocal images at 2 μm pixel resolution to cover a volume of 3.88 mm(3). Detailed measurements including the distribution of vessel diameters, branch counts, and identification of voids were subsequently re-visualised in 3D revealing regional specialisation within the network. By focussing on critical immune microenvironments we quantified differences in their vascular topology. We further developed a morphology-based approach to identify High Endothelial Venules, key sites for lymphocyte

SUBMITTER: Kelch ID 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4645097 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature