Observing three-dimensional human microvascular and myogenic architecture using conventional fluorescence microscopy

Microangiography and vascular casting have previously been used to demonstrate the three-dimensional architecture of human uterine microvasculature. However, a limitation of these perfusion-dependent techniques is the difficulty in identifying surrounding tissue components. We have previously shown...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Micron (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 134 - 138
Main Authors:	Hamid, Shabaz A., Ferguson, Louise E.A., Jay McGavigan, C., Howe, David C., Campbell, Steven
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2006
Subjects:	Endometrium - blood supply Endometrium - ultrastructure Endothelium Endothelium, Vascular - ultrastructure Female Fibroids Fluorescent Antibody Technique Humans Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods Microcirculation - ultrastructure Microscopy, Fluorescence Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - ultrastructure Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - ultrastructure Myometrium - blood supply Myometrium - ultrastructure Plant Lectins - metabolism Smooth muscle Staining and Labeling - methods Uterus Uterus - blood supply Uterus - ultrastructure Visualisation Visualisation Smooth muscle Fibroids Uterus Endothelium
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Summary:	Microangiography and vascular casting have previously been used to demonstrate the three-dimensional architecture of human uterine microvasculature. However, a limitation of these perfusion-dependent techniques is the difficulty in identifying surrounding tissue components. We have previously shown that it is possible to visualise microvascular networks on the cut surfaces of fresh tissue specimens by diffusive labelling of vascular endothelium with fluorescently conjugated UEA-1 lectin. Unlike perfusion methods that are limited to accessible vascular networks, diffusive flourecence labelling (DFL) allows additional visualisation of extravascular cellular components, such as smooth muscle. Following UEA-1 DFL, smooth muscle-myosin and -actin were then visualised by immunolocalisation on the acetone-fixed tissue pieces. This allowed clear three-dimensional distinction between the vascular and muscle architecture of the myometrium and endometrium. This method can also be applied for studying the relative distribution of microvascular and muscle architecture in leiomyomas (fibroids). The techniques described in this methodological study provide a simple way of directly examining the uterine vasculature in three dimensions using conventional microscopy, while also distinguishing myometrial from endometrial parts of the network.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0968-4328 1878-4291
DOI:	10.1016/j.micron.2005.09.001