Dynamic properties and interactions between brain cells uncovered with in vivo microscopy

“Dynamic properties and interactions between brain cells uncovered with in vivo microscopy”

Abstract: The overall aim of our laboratory is to learn about the dynamic properties of the various cell types in the nervous system and how cell-cell interactions are disrupted in brain injury, vascular, neurodegenerative and other pathologies. We use techniques including transcranial in vivo two photon microscopy, high-resolution confocal and electron microscopy in combination with differential fluorescent cell labeling and genetic/pharmacological manipulations. In first half of my talk, I will focus on longitudinal imaging of the cortical microvasculature during postnatal development and in pathological processes and will discuss a mechanism of microvascular recanalization independent of the fibrinolytic system that we recently uncovered. In the second half, I will present new data about the dynamics of oligodendrocytes and myelination using a new technique that we developed that allows time-lapse in vivo imaging of cortical myelin in a label-less fashion.