3 - Dimensional Analysis of Vascular Structure, Function and Receptor Distribution Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy - VASCAN 2000

Nothing is known of how adventitial, medial and endothelial cells arrange themselves to form a vascular wall. No explanation explanation exists of how the vascular wall remodels in cardiovascular disease. Lack of structural knowledge stems from lack of suitable methods to study structure and function simultaneously. Conventional histology related to function cannot provide sufficient detail of cellular arrangement and relationships. VASCAN-2000 brings together experts in confocal microscopy (CLSM), 3D image analysis and vascular biology and hardware and software SMEs from 4 EU countries. Via a shared cost initiative, we will study relationships and distributions of key receptor populations and all vascular cell types in isolated pressurised resistance vessels in 3D using CLSM and novel imaging techniques. Vessels from rat and human conditions of hyper and hypotension will allow identification of common aspects of vascular remodelling.