Cerebrovascular networks are composed of many different cell types and vasculature that dynamically function to meet the energy demands of neurons in the brain. Yet, the structural organization of cerebrovasculature and its relationship with associated neuronal and vascular cell types remain unclear. Here, we employ cellular resolution 3D mapping methods with isocortical flatmaps, fluid dynamic simulation, and genetic labeling approaches to examine cerebrovascular network components including microvessels, pericytes, and neuronal subtypes in mice. We uncover regionally heterogeneities in the vasculature and pericytes, with low densities in association cortices and the hippocampus. In the isocortex, the vasculature and pericytes show significant positive correlation with energy demanding parvalbumin (PV) interneurons and yet a significant negative correlation with vasomotor neuronal nitrogen oxide synthase (nNOS)-expressing neurons. Lastly, we map the spatial distribution of nNOS neuron subtypes co-expressing Neuropeptide Y, Somatostatin, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, or PV as a resource to understand their regional distribution.
Disclaimer: Viewer background images (right) are from the Allen Intitute for Brain Science's Mouse Common Coordinate Framework (CCF), please refer to the technical white paper for methods used to generate the CCF.
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