Biology subjects

Gutierrez-Jimenez, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Gutierrez-Jimenez, E..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Sex shapes capillary flows and oxygen extraction in the middle-aged mouse brain

Sex differences in brain aging are well documented, but their origin within the cerebrovascular hierarchy remains unclear. Here we show that cortical blood flow is higher in female than male mice at 15 months of age, at a point when an earlier sex difference in pulsatility and resistance indices has already converged, pial vessel diameter shows no difference between sexes, and estrogen levels are similar between sexes. Using an indicator-dilution and intravascular oxygen measurements using two-photon microscopy, we found that capillary transit-time heterogeneity (CTH) scales more steeply with mean transit time in females, consistent with a passively regulated capillary network, and that this is accompanied by reduced oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) without deficit in arterial oxygen delivery. Spatial transcriptomics reveals that sex differences are organized into distinct regional programs, most prominently in white matter, where a male-associated myelin and axonogenesis signature accompanies reduced white matter volume in females. These molecular and structural differences coincide with elevated hippocampal microglial reactivity and an altered spatial search strategy in females, without any detectable differences in circulating markers of stress, blood-brain barrier integrity, or immunity. Together, these findings indicate that sex differences in the aging brain are expressed at the level of capillary flow regulation and regional tissue programs rather than through bulk cerebral blood flow alone, and that elevated blood flow in females can mask, rather than reflect, adequate tissue oxygenation.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Microvascular pulsatility of the ageing brain and confounding effects of anaesthesia

Microvascular pulsatility in the brain is crucial for sustaining the delicate balance between the brains metabolic demands and blood supply, as it affects nutrient exchange, waste removal and blood-brain barrier permeability. Abnormal pulsatility, associated with ageing or vascular risk factors, may impair the clearance of metabolic waste or contribute to conditions such as cerebral small vessel disease, ultimately leading to dementia and increasing the risk of stroke. In the present study, we introduce a new approach for robust full-field characterization of microvascular pulsatility and apply it to study cerebral perfusion and pulsatility across nearly the entire lifespan of awake and anaesthetized C57BL/6 mice. Our findings in awake animals reveal remarkably stable perfusion and pulsatility from 18 to 81 weeks, with pulsatility starting to change only in the final weeks of observation. In contrast, measurements taken under anaesthesia display a range of age-dependent and age-independent changes. We show that isoflurane affects the perfusion in an age-dependent manner, and both isoflurane and ketamine-xylazine, despite their distinct mechanisms, double the perfusion pulsatility and affect vascular diameter pulsatility in a complex manner, highlighting a previously overlooked detrimental effect of anaesthesia on assessing brain function.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors prevent presymptomatic capillary flow disturbances in a model of cerebral amyloidosis

Structured abstractO_ST_ABSINTRODUCTIONC_ST_ABSDisturbances in microvascular flow dynamics are hypothesized to precede the symptomatic phase of Alzheimers disease (AD). However, evidence in presymptomatic AD remains elusive, underscoring the need for therapies targeting these early vascular changes. METHODSWe employed a multimodal approach, combining in vivo optical imaging, molecular techniques, and ex vivo MRI, to investigate early capillary dysfunction in Tg-SwDI mice without memory impairment. We also assessed the efficacy of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) in preventing capillary flow disturbances. RESULTSOur study revealed capillary flow disturbances associated with alterations in capillary morphology, adhesion molecule expression, and Amyloid-{beta} (A{beta}) load in 9-10-month-old Tg-SwDI mice without memory impairment. CAI treatment ameliorated these capillary flow disturbances, enhanced oxygen availability, and reduced A{beta} load. DISCUSSIONThese findings underscore the importance of capillary flow disturbances as early biomarkers in presymptomatic AD and highlight the potential of CAIs for preserving vascular integrity in the early stages of AD.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Microcirculatory dysfunction associates with neurovascular uncoupling in peri-ischemic brain regions after ischemic stroke

BackgroundDespite recanalization after ischemic stroke, neurovascular coupling, i.e., the local hyperaemic response to neuronal activity, is impaired in peri-ischemic brain regions. Reduced neurovascular coupling may contribute to neurological deterioration over time. The mechanism underlying dysfunctional neurovascular coupling following stroke is largely unknown. MethodsMice implanted with chronic cranial windows were trained for awake head-fixation prior to experiments. One hour occlusion of the anterior middle cerebral artery branch was induced using single vessel photothrombosis. Cerebral perfusion and neurovascular coupling were assessed by optical coherence tomography and laser speckle contrast imaging. Capillaries and pericytes were studied in perfusion-fixed tissue by labelling lectin and platelet-derived growth factor receptor {beta}. ResultsArterial occlusion induced on average 11 spreading depressions over one hour associated with substantially reduced blood flow in the peri-ischemic cortex. Approximately half of the capillaries in the peri-ischemic area were no longer perfused 3 and 24 hours after reperfusion, which was associated with constriction of an equivalent proportion of peri-ischemic capillary pericytes. The capillaries in the peri-ischemic cortex that remained perfused showed increased prevalence of dynamic flow stalling. Whisker stimulation led to reduced neurovascular coupling responses in the sensory cortex corresponding to the peri-ischemic region 3 and 24 hours after reperfusion. ConclusionArterial occlusion led to constriction of pericytes in the peri-ischemic cortex associated with long-lasting microcirculatory failure. This reduced capillary capacity may, at least in part, underlie impaired neurovascular coupling in peri-ischemic brain regions after stroke and reperfusion.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2022

FDA-approved carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce Amyloid beta pathology and improve cognition, by ameliorating cerebrovascular health and glial fitness

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with no effective cure. Cerebrovascular and neurovascular pathology are early and causal hallmarks of AD, where cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the deposition of amyloid {beta} (A{beta}) at the cerebral vasculature, is present in about 90% of cases. Our previous work has uncovered the protective effect of carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition against A{beta}-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in vascular, glial and neuronal cells in culture. Here, we tested for the first time in a transgenic model of AD and cerebrovascular amyloidosis, the TgSwDI mice, a therapeutic regimen employing the FDA-approved CA inhibitors (CAIs), methazolamide (MTZ) and acetazolamide (ATZ). These drugs are used in humans for glaucoma, high altitude sickness, and other disorders, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. We found that both CAIs were non- toxic, significantly reduced cerebral amyloidosis, vascular, microglial and astrocytic A{beta} accumulation, and ameliorated cognition. MTZ and ATZ treatment prevented caspase-3 activation in endothelial cells, microglia and astrocytes, reverted capillary constriction and microhemorrhages, reduced gliosis, and induced glial pro-clearance pathways, which are likely responsible for the reduction of A{beta} deposition. Notably, we unveiled a critical new druggable target, revealing that the mitochondrial isozyme CA-VB is specifically upregulated in TgSwDI mouse brains, as well as in human brains of CAA and AD (with CAA) patients. Importantly, A{beta} challenge induced CA-VB overexpression in human cerebral endothelial cells, and CA-VB silencing, mimicking CAIs effects, reduced A{beta}-mediated endothelial apoptosis. This work paves the way for the application of CAIs in clinical trials for AD and CAA and uncovers CA-VB as a mediator of cerebral amyloid toxicity.

neuroscience↗