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Time-lapse imaging of disease progression in deep brain areas using fluorescence microendoscopy

Time-lapse imaging of disease progression in deep brain areas using fluorescence microendoscopy NATURE MEDICINE Barretto, R. P., Ko, T. H., Jung, J. C., Wang, T. J., Capps, G., Waters, A. C., Ziv, Y., Attardo, A., Recht, L., Schnitzer, M. J. 2011; 17 (2): 223-U120

Abstract

The combination of intravital microscopy and animal models of disease has propelled studies of disease mechanisms and treatments. However, many disorders afflict tissues inaccessible to light microscopy in live subjects. Here we introduce cellular-level time-lapse imaging deep within the live mammalian brain by one- and two-photon fluorescence microendoscopy over multiple weeks. Bilateral imaging sites allowed longitudinal comparisons within individual subjects, including of normal and diseased tissues. Using this approach, we tracked CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neuron dendrites in adult mice, revealing these dendrites' extreme stability and rare examples of their structural alterations. To illustrate disease studies, we tracked deep lying gliomas by observing tumor growth, visualizing three-dimensional vasculature structure and determining microcirculatory speeds. Average erythrocyte speeds in gliomas declined markedly as the disease advanced, notwithstanding significant increases in capillary diameters. Time-lapse microendoscopy will be applicable to studies of numerous disorders, including neurovascular, neurological, cancerous and trauma-induced conditions.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nm.2292

View details for Web of Science ID 000286969900032

View details for PubMedID 21240263