2023/04/05 by Miroslav Stibůrek, Petra Ondráčková, Tereza Tučková +9 · 1 voice · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques #Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques #Random lasers and scattering media
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41467-023-36889-z
openalex publication_date 2023/04/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Light-based in-vivo brain imaging relies on light transport over large distances of highly scattering tissues. Scattering gradually reduces imaging contrast and resolution, making it difficult to reach structures at greater depths even with the use of multiphoton techniques. To reach deeper, minimally invasive endo-microscopy techniques have been established. These most commonly exploit graded-index rod lenses and enable a variety of modalities in head-fixed and freely moving animals. A recently proposed alternative is the use of holographic control of light transport through multimode optical fibres promising much less traumatic application and superior imaging performance. We present a 110 μm thin laser-scanning endo-microscope based on this prospect, enabling in-vivo volumetric imaging throughout the whole depth of the mouse brain. The instrument is equipped with multi-wavelength detection and three-dimensional random access options, and it performs at lateral resolution below 1 μm. We showcase various modes of its application through the observations of fluorescently labelled neurones, their processes and blood vessels. Finally, we demonstrate how to exploit the instrument to monitor calcium signalling of neurones and to measure blood flow velocity in individual vessels at high speeds.