Advances in studying whole mouse brain vasculature using high-resolution 3D light microscopy imaging

SIGNIFICANCE: The cerebrovasculature has become increasingly recognized as a major player in overall brain health and many brain disorders. Although there have been several landmark studies to understand details of these crucially important structures in an anatomically defined area, brain-wide examination of the whole cerebrovasculature, including microvessels, has been challenging. However, emerging techniques, including tissue processing and three-dimensional (3D) microscopy imaging, enable neuroscientists to examine the total vasculature in the entire mouse brain. AIM: Here, we aim to highlight advances in these high-resolution 3D mapping methods including block-face imaging and light sheet fluorescent microscopy. APPROACH: We summarize latest mapping tools to understand detailed anatomical arrangement of the cerebrovascular network and the organizing principles of the neurovascular unit (NVU) as a whole. RESULTS: We discuss biological insights gained from studies using these imaging methods and how these tools can be used to advance our understanding of the cerebrovascular network and related cell types in the entire brain. CONCLUSIONS: This review article will help to understand recent advance in high-resolution NVU mapping in mice and provide perspective on future studies.