Image‐based assessment of microvascular function and structure in collagen XV‐ and XVIII‐deficient mice. (9th December 2013) - Rygh, C. B.
Key points Collagen XV and XVIII occur in muscle and connective tissue capillaries and are needed for maintaining a normal circulatory phenotype. Lack of collagen XV in mice leads to increased vascular permeability, increased extraction fraction, and increased extravascular extracellular space in striated muscle. Lack of collagen XVIII in mice leads to increased blood flow, permeability, permeability–surface area product and blood–tissue transvascular transfer in striated muscle tissue. Our results show that functional imaging with MRI and subsequent data analysis provide reliable and robust data and are valuable tools for assessing detailed physiological information non‐invasively.