SPECTRAL IMAGING OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC TISSUES

这个子项目是利用资源的许多研究子项目之一。 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。对子项目的主要支持 子项目的首席调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括美国国立卫生研究院的其他来源。为子项目列出的总成本可能 表示该子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 不是由NCRR赠款提供给次级项目或次级项目工作人员的直接资金。 我们应用MDM CARS显微镜对两种动脉粥样硬化小鼠模型，载脂蛋白E缺陷小鼠和低密度脂蛋白受体缺陷小鼠的动脉粥样硬化斑块病变进行了成像。在这项研究中，我们的目标是区分病变中不同的亲脂成分，其中包括中性脂肪、胆固醇酯和胆固醇。由于缺乏化学选择性，这些与斑块脆弱性相关的单个成分的微观分布一直隐藏在人们的视线之外。通过高光谱CARS成像，我们希望提供所需的化学地图，使病变在疾病进展期间的微环境成为焦点。 沿着主动脉全长的CARS图像显示了两种动脉粥样硬化小鼠模型在脂质结构和成分方面的差异。具体地说，我们在载脂蛋白E缺陷小鼠的斑块病变中观察到了几个富含脂肪的针状和板状结构，这些结构在低密度脂蛋白受体缺陷小鼠中显著较少。然而，两个模型都显示了病变内类似的巨噬细胞致密区域，以及周围组织中类似的弹性蛋白纤维结构。 。我们目前正在对化学图谱中包含的检索光谱进行多组分分析，以揭示光谱特征的分子来源。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. We have applied MDM CARS microscopy to image atherosclerotic plaque lesions within the aortas of two atherosclerotic mouse models  the ApoE-deficient mouse and the LDLR-deficient mouse. In this study, we aim to discriminate among different lipophilic components in the lesion, among which neutral lipid, cholesterol esters, and cholesterol. The microscopic distribution of these individual components, which correlate with plaque vulnerability, has remained hidden from view due to a lack of chemical selectivity. With hyper spectral CARS imaging, we hope to provide the chemical maps needed to bring the micro-environment of the lesion during disease progression in focus. CARS images along the full length of the aorta reveal differences in lipid structure and composition between the two atherosclerotic mouse models. Specifically, we observed several lipid-rich, needle- and plate-shaped structures within the plaque lesions of the ApoE-deficient mouse, which were significantly less prevalent in the LDLR-deficient mouse. Both models, however, did reveal similar macrophage-dense regions within the lesions, as well as comparable elastin fiber structure within the surrounding tissue. . We are currently performing multicomponent analysis on the retrieved spectra contained in the chemical maps to reveal the molecular origin of the spectroscopic signatures.