In vivo label-free three-dimensional imaging of zebrafish vasculature with optical projection tomography

J Biomed Opt. 2011 Oct;16(10):100502. doi: 10.1117/1.3640808.

Abstract

We introduce flow optical projection tomography, an imaging technique capable of visualizing the vasculature of living specimens in 3-D. The method detects the movement of cells in the bloodstream and creates flow maps using a motion-analysis procedure. Then, flow maps obtained from projection taken at several angles are used to reconstruct sections of the circulatory system of the specimen. We therefore demonstrate an in vivo, 3-D optical imaging technique that, without the use of any labeling, is able to reconstruct and visualize the vascular network of transparent and weakly scattering living specimens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blood Vessels / anatomy & histology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Rheology / methods
  • Tomography, Optical / methods*
  • Zebrafish / anatomy & histology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins