NYMC Faculty Publications
Label Free, Capillary-Scale Blood Flow Mapping in Vivo Reveals That Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Evokes Persistent Dilation in Cortical Microvasculature
Author Type(s)
Student, Faculty
DOI
10.1038/s42003-024-07356-2
Journal Title
Communications Biology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2025
Department
Physiology
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Non-invasive, low intensity focused ultrasound is an emerging neuromodulation technique that offers the potential for precision, personalized therapy. An increasing body of research has identified mechanosensitive ion channels that can be modulated by FUS and support acute electrical activity in neurons. However, neuromodulatory effects that persist from hours to days have also been reported. The brain’s ability to provide blood flow to electrically active regions involves a multitude of non-neuronal cell types and signaling pathways in the cerebral vasculature; an open question is whether persistent effects can be attributed, at least partly, to vascular mechanisms. Using an in vivo optical approach, we found that microvasculature, and not larger vessels, exhibit significant persistent dilation following sonication without the use of microbubbles. This finding reveals a heretofore unseen aspect of the effects of FUS in vivo and indicates that concurrent changes in neurovascular function may partially underly persistent neuromodulatory effects.
Recommended Citation
Shen, Y., Jethe, J., Reid, A., Hehir, J., Amaral, M., Ren, C., Hao, S., Zhou, C., & Fisher, J. (2025). Label Free, Capillary-Scale Blood Flow Mapping in Vivo Reveals That Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Evokes Persistent Dilation in Cortical Microvasculature. Communications Biology, 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07356-2
