VISUALIZING MECHANOSENSORY CHANNELS FOR VASCULAR TRANSPORT IN THE DURA
Open Access
- Author:
- Craine, Amanda
- Millennium Scholars Program:
- Biomedical Engineering (BME)
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisor:
- Patrick Drew, Thesis Supervisor
- Keywords:
- neurovascular coupling
anatomy
neural engineering - Abstract:
- Migraines are one of the most common types of chronic pain humans endure, chronically impacting 10% of the global population. However, the mechanics of migraine formation are relatively unknown. Recent studies suggest that the dura mater may be related to migraine progression, location, and intensity. Additionally, studies suggest that mechanosensitive channels PIEZO1/2 along neurons in the brain also play a role in the migraine cascade. PEIZO channels have been shown to utilize inflammatory responses, hemodynamic forces, and chemical changes to influence pain localization and duration. Therefore, we seek to visualize PIEZO channels in the dura of mice to understand the relation between changes in blood flow and neural stimulation that cause migraine pain. First, a new dural dissection technique was developed to allow for evaluation of the dura’s neurovascular network. PIEZO channels were co-stained along with markers for blood vessels and neurons via immunofluorescence staining and confocal imaging. PIEZO2 channels were shown to line the blood vessels of the dura, suggesting that PIEZO2 channels are activated by hemodynamic forces. Co-staining of PIEZO2 with neural markers β3-tubulin and Neurofilament (NF) suggests a relation with axons. Further studies will be conducted to understand how PIEZO channels interact with specific regions of neurons. Other cells in the dura were also found to express PIEZO2. These cells have not been identified, but we hypothesize that they are mast cells. Additional studies will be conducted to confirm the cell origin. Overall, this study allows us to define mechanosensitive channels PIEZO1/2 in the dura in addition to a novel approach to dural dissection. By establishing the presence of PIEZO channels, in vivo studies can be conducted to understand how the channels interact with adjacent vessels and neurons to facilitate neurovascular coupling.