Dual-Modal Ex Vivo Vascular Culture and Imaging System Facilitates Research on Vascular Changes under Hyperglycemic and Hypoxic Conditions

Abstract

Diabetic microvascular complications result from complex vascular remodeling influenced by hyperglycemia and hypoxia. However, there is currently no comprehensive method for systematically studying their combined effects on overall vascular morphology and perfusion function. To address this, a dual-modal ex vivo vascular culture and imaging system is developed. First, an ex vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model is established as a vascular culture platform. Then a dual-modal imaging system integrating incoherent bright-field imaging and laser speckle imaging is constructed for vascular imaging. Following this, a vascular structure and perfusion analysis algorithm is employed to achieve full-scale characterization of vascular structural and perfusion changes in the CAM model. Using this system, vascular changes under different oxygen and glucose conditions are systematically investigated, revealing that normal vasculature exhibits a certain degree of resistance to oxygen fluctuations, whereas hyperglycemia impairs the vascular adaptive response to hypoxia. Furthermore, variations in oxygen levels are identified as a key factor contributing to the differential vascular changes observed under hyperglycemic conditions. This study highlights the synergistic effects of hyperglycemia and hypoxia on vascular remodeling and provides an innovative real-time imaging platform for investigating microvascular pathology. This system has significant potential for advancing research on vascular-related diseases.