Pericyte loss significantly increased capillary stalling in the brain, mediated by a decreased extent of the cerebral endothelial glycocalyx and increased expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules.
Does pericyte depletion increase capillary stalling in the brain of mice?
Pericyte loss induces capillary stalling in the brain through increased leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction, providing a potential mechanism for microcirculatory changes in neurological diseases.
p-value: p=<0.01
The neurovascular unit is a functional unit composed of neurons, glial cells, pericytes, and endothelial cells which sustain brain activity. While pericyte is a key component of the neurovascular unit, its role in cerebral blood flow regulation remains elusive. Recently, capillary stalling, which means the transient interruption of microcirculation in capillaries, has been shown to have an outsized impact on microcirculatory changes in several neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated capillary stalling and its possible causes, such as the cerebral endothelial glycocalyx and leukocyte adhesion molecules after depleting pericytes postnatally in mice. Moreover, we investigated hypoxia and gliosis as consequences of capillary stalling. Although there were no differences in the capillary structure and RBC flow, longitudinal optical coherence tomography angiography showed an increased number of stalled segments in capillaries after pericyte loss. Furthermore, the extent of the cerebral endothelial glycocalyx was decreased with increased expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, suggesting enhanced interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells. Finally, pericyte loss induced cerebral hypoxia and gliosis. Cumulatively, the results suggest that pericyte loss induces capillary stalling through increased interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells in the brain.
Choe et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Capillary stalling. Pericyte depletion vs. Vehicle (corn oil) administered littermates was evaluated on Number of stalled capillary segments (p=<0.01). Pericyte loss significantly increased capillary stalling in the brain, mediated by a decreased extent of the cerebral endothelial glycocalyx and increased expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules.