The zebrafish has shown to be an essential preclinical animal model, especially in the field of oncology. A non-invasive, high-resolution, and three-dimensional imaging modality is required to identify disease related changes in this model organism.
The presented polarization-sensitive Jones matrix optical coherence tomography (JM-OCT) prototype was utilized in three different studies, covering in vivo imaging of wildtype zebrafish, an adult postmortem tumor model and a longitudinal xenograft tumor zebrafish investigation.
This work highlights the potential of JM-OCT as a non-invasive, label-free, and three-dimensional imaging tool for preclinical cancer research based on zebrafish models.
The zebrafish is an essential animal model in pre-clinical research, especially in the field of cancer investigations. A polarization sensitive Jones matrix OCT (JM-OCT) prototype operating at 1310 nm was utilized to investigate adult control and tumor zebrafish models. Various anatomical features were characterized based on their inherent scattering and polarization properties. A motorized translation stage in combination with the prototype enabled large field-of-view imaging to investigate whole adult zebrafish non-destructively. The reflectivity, the attenuation coefficient and local polarization parameters such as the birefringence and the degree of polarization uniformity were analyzed to quantify differences in tumor versus control regions.
A polarization sensitive Jones matrix optical coherence tomography (JM-OCT) prototype was utilized to investigate in vivo wildtype zebrafish in different development stages. JM-OCT is a functional extension of conventional intensity-based OCT to visualize polarization properties of samples. We demonstrated simultaneous structural and functional imaging of in vivo wildtype zebrafish at the age of eight-days, one and two-months post-fertilization. The scattering and polarization characteristics of the anatomical features, such as the eye, and the muscles, were investigated and quantified non-invasively and in three-dimensions. Furthermore, the setup was able to visualize dynamic processes like the blood flow in a label-free way.
Significance: The scattering and polarization characteristics of various organs of in vivo wildtype zebrafish in three development stages were investigated using a non-destructive and label-free approach. The presented results showed a promising first step for the usability of Jones-matrix optical coherence tomography (JM-OCT) in zebrafish-based research.
Aim: We aim to visualize and quantify the scatter and polarization signatures of various zebrafish organs for larvae, juvenile, and young adult animals in vivo in a non-invasive and label-free way.
Approach: A custom-built polarization-sensitive JM-OCT setup in combination with a motorized translation stage was utilized to investigate live zebrafish. Depth-resolved scattering (intensity and attenuation coefficient) and polarization (birefringence and degree of polarization uniformity) properties were analyzed. OCT angiography (OCT-A) was utilized to investigate the vasculature label-free and non-destructively.
Results: The scatter and polarization signatures of the zebrafish organs such as the eye, gills, and muscles were investigated. The attenuation coefficient and birefringence changes between 1- and 2-month-old animals were evaluated in selected organs. OCT-A revealed the vasculature of in vivo larvae and juvenile zebrafish in a label-free manner.
Conclusions: JM-OCT offers a rapid, label-free, non-invasive, tissue specific, and three-dimensional imaging tool to investigate in vivo processes in zebrafish in various development stages.
We implemented a wide field-of-view visible-light optical coherence microscope (OCM) for investigating ex-vivo brain tissue of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and of a mouse model of AD. A submicrometer axial resolution in tissue was achieved using a broad visible light spectrum. The use of various objective lenses enabled reaching micrometer transversal resolution and the acquisition of images of microscopic brain features, such as cell structures, vessels, and white matter tracts. Amyloid-beta plaques in the range of 10 to 70 μm were visualized. Large field-of-view images of young and old mouse brain sections were imaged using an automated x − y − z stage. The plaque load was characterized, revealing an age-related increase. Human brain tissue affected by cerebral amyloid angiopathy was investigated and hyperscattering structures resembling amyloid beta accumulations in the vessel walls were identified. All results were in good agreement with histology. A comparison of plaque features in both human and mouse brain tissue was performed, revealing an increase in plaque load and a decrease in reflectivity for mouse as compared with human brain tissue. Based on the promising outcome of our experiments, visible light OCM might be a powerful tool for investigating microscopic features in ex-vivo brain tissue.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.