Time-gated optical projection tomography allows visualization of adult zebrafish internal structures

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50744. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050744. Epub 2012 Nov 19.

Abstract

Optical imaging through biological samples is compromised by tissue scattering and currently various approaches aim to overcome this limitation. In this paper we demonstrate that an all optical technique, based on non-linear upconversion of infrared ultrashort laser pulses and on multiple view acquisition, allows the reduction of scattering effects in tomographic imaging. This technique, namely Time-Gated Optical Projection Tomography (TGOPT), is used to reconstruct three dimensionally the internal structure of adult zebrafish without staining or clearing agents. This method extends the use of Optical Projection Tomography to optically diffusive samples yielding reconstructions with reduced artifacts, increased contrast and improved resolution with respect to those obtained with non-gated techniques. The paper shows that TGOPT is particularly suited for imaging the skeletal system and nervous structures of adult zebrafish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / anatomy & histology*
  • Artifacts*
  • Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Lasers
  • Light
  • Nervous System / anatomy & histology*
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Optical / instrumentation
  • Tomography, Optical / methods*
  • Zebrafish / anatomy & histology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics

Grants and funding

This research was partially supported by the European Union under Contract N.284464 LASERLABEurope III (JRA-BIOPTICHAL) and by Cariplo Foundation under Grant N. 2009-2626. EAF acknowledges support from Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.