Visualization and Analysis of Adhesive Events in Brain Microvessels by Using Intravital Microscopy

Leukocyte migration into the brain represents a critical step in the inflammatory pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS). Leukocytes extravasate through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during cerebrovascular diseases, infections, autoimmune diseases, traumas, tumoral, and degenerative processes (1 –5 ). All intravital microscopy studies employed up to now determine the interactions between blood leukocytes and brain endothelium carried out by performing a cranial window into the skull using a drill. Animals needed to be artificially ventilated while bleeding and tissue overheating from cautery occur. In this chapter, we describe a novel intravital microscopy model allowing visualization of cerebral vessels through the skull and analysis of the interactions between different leukocyte subpopulations and the endothelium in brain superficial microvasculature of mice.