PMID- 35295714
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
LR  - 20221004
IS  - 2329-423X (Print)
IS  - 2329-4248 (Electronic)
IS  - 2329-423X (Linking)
VI  - 9
IP  - 2
DP  - 2022 Apr
TI  - Toolbox for studying neurovascular coupling in vivo, with a focus on vascular 
      activity and calcium dynamics in astrocytes.
PG  - 021909
LID - 10.1117/1.NPh.9.2.021909 [doi]
LID - 021909
AB  - Significance: Insights into the cellular activity of each member of the 
      neurovascular unit (NVU) is critical for understanding their contributions to 
      neurovascular coupling (NVC)-one of the key control mechanisms in cerebral blood 
      flow regulation. Advances in imaging and genetic tools have enhanced our ability 
      to observe, manipulate and understand the cellular activity of NVU components, 
      namely neurons, astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle 
      cells, and pericytes. However, there are still many unresolved questions. Since 
      astrocytes are considered electrically unexcitable, Ca2+ signaling is the main 
      parameter used to monitor their activity. It is therefore imperative to study 
      astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics simultaneously with vascular activity using tools 
      appropriate for the question of interest. Aim: To highlight currently available 
      genetic and imaging tools for studying the NVU-and thus NVC-with a focus on 
      astrocyte Ca2+ dynamics and vascular activity, and discuss the utility, technical 
      advantages, and limitations of these tools for elucidating NVC mechanisms. 
      Approach: We draw attention to some outstanding questions regarding the 
      mechanistic basis of NVC and emphasize the role of astrocytic Ca2+ elevations in 
      functional hyperemia. We further discuss commonly used genetic, and optical 
      imaging tools, as well as some newly developed imaging modalities for studying 
      NVC at the cellular level, highlighting their advantages and limitations. 
      Results: We provide an overview of the current state of NVC research, focusing on 
      the role of astrocytic Ca2+ elevations in functional hyperemia; summarize recent 
      advances in genetically engineered Ca2+ indicators, fluorescence microscopy 
      techniques for studying NVC; and discuss the unmet challenges for future imaging 
      development. Conclusions: Advances in imaging techniques together with 
      improvements in genetic tools have significantly contributed to our understanding 
      of NVC. Many pieces of the puzzle have been revealed, but many more remain to be 
      discovered. Ultimately, optimizing NVC research will require a concerted effort 
      to improve imaging techniques, available genetic tools, and analytical software.
CI  - (c) 2022 The Authors.
FAU - Tran, Cam Ha T
AU  - Tran CHT
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-1177-7723
AD  - University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell 
      Biology, Reno, Nevada, United States.
LA  - eng
GR  - P20 GM130459/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States
GR  - R01 NS121543/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States
GR  - R21 AG073780/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
DEP - 20220314
PL  - United States
TA  - Neurophotonics
JT  - Neurophotonics
JID - 101632875
PMC - PMC8920490
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - astrocytes
OT  - calcium
OT  - endothelial cells
OT  - neurons
OT  - optogenetics
OT  - pericytes
OT  - three-dimensional volume imaging
OT  - two-photon imaging
OT  - vascular smooth muscle cells
EDAT- 2022/03/18 06:00
MHDA- 2022/03/18 06:01
PMCR- 2022/03/14
CRDT- 2022/03/17 05:12
PHST- 2021/10/30 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2022/02/23 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2022/03/17 05:12 [entrez]
PHST- 2022/03/18 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2022/03/18 06:01 [medline]
PHST- 2022/03/14 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 21059SSVR [pii]
AID - 10.1117/1.NPh.9.2.021909 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Neurophotonics. 2022 Apr;9(2):021909. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.9.2.021909. Epub 2022 
      Mar 14.