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Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging to Measure Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow

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Cerebral Angiogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1135))

Abstract

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a powerful tool capable of acquiring detailed maps of blood flow in arteries and veins on the cortical surface. Based on the blurring of laser speckle patterns by the motion of blood cells, LSCI can be combined with a variety of optical imaging preparations to acquire high-spatiotemporal resolution images of blood flow, and track changes in blood flow over time, using relatively simple instrumentation. Here, we describe methods for LSCI of cerebral blood flow via a thin skull imaging preparation in mice or rats. This preparation allows precise semiquantitative mapping of changes in blood flow over time using straightforward surgical protocols and equipment.

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Acknowledgements

I.W. is supported by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Thanks to Gomathi Ramakrishnan for assistance with the manuscript figures. Figures 1a and 2b are modified from Armitage et al. [10].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Ian R. Winship

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  1. Ian R. Winship
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA

    Richard Milner

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Winship, I.R. (2014). Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging to Measure Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow. In: Milner, R. (eds) Cerebral Angiogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1135. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0320-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0320-7_19

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0319-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0320-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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