Miniature Fluorescence Microscopy for Imaging Brain Activity in Freely-Behaving Animals

Chen, Shiyuan; Wang, Zichen; Zhang, Dong; Wang, Aiming; Chen, Liangyi; Cheng, Heping; Wu, Runlong

doi:10.1007/s12264-020-00561-z

Cited by 28 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Several laboratories have attempted to improve the laser transmission, scanning and detection to image commonly used GECIs in 3D, 124 , 125 but some of these developments have not yet been used in neuroscience. 126 Most miniaturized microscopes are capable of monitoring either neural activity or hemodynamic activity but not both. To truly characterize NVC, it is crucial that both neural activity and vascular responses be concomitantly examined in freely behaving animals.…”

Section: Optical Imaging Tools For In Vivo Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toolbox for studying neurovascular coupling in vivo, with a focus on vascular activity and calcium dynamics in astrocytes

Tran

2022

Neurophoton.

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. Significance: Insights into the cellular activity of each member of the neurovascular unit (NVU) is critical for understanding their contributions to neurovascular coupling (NVC)—one of the key control mechanisms in cerebral blood flow regulation. Advances in imaging and genetic tools have enhanced our ability to observe, manipulate and understand the cellular activity of NVU components, namely neurons, astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. However, there are still many unresolved questions. Since astrocytes are considered electrically unexcitable, signaling is the main parameter used to monitor their activity. It is therefore imperative to study astrocytic dynamics simultaneously with vascular activity using tools appropriate for the question of interest. Aim: To highlight currently available genetic and imaging tools for studying the NVU—and thus NVC—with a focus on astrocyte dynamics and vascular activity, and discuss the utility, technical advantages, and limitations of these tools for elucidating NVC mechanisms. Approach: We draw attention to some outstanding questions regarding the mechanistic basis of NVC and emphasize the role of astrocytic elevations in functional hyperemia. We further discuss commonly used genetic, and optical imaging tools, as well as some newly developed imaging modalities for studying NVC at the cellular level, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Results: We provide an overview of the current state of NVC research, focusing on the role of astrocytic elevations in functional hyperemia; summarize recent advances in genetically engineered indicators, fluorescence microscopy techniques for studying NVC; and discuss the unmet challenges for future imaging development. Conclusions: Advances in imaging techniques together with improvements in genetic tools have significantly contributed to our understanding of NVC. Many pieces of the puzzle have been revealed, but many more remain to be discovered. Ultimately, optimizing NVC research will require a concerted effort to improve imaging techniques, available genetic tools, and analytical software.

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Section: Optical Imaging Tools For In Vivo Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toolbox for studying neurovascular coupling in vivo, with a focus on vascular activity and calcium dynamics in astrocytes

Tran

2022

Neurophoton.

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“…Baris N. Ozbay et al used head-mounted miniature TPM to observe about 200 oligodendrocytes labeled with a green fluorescent protein in the FOV with a diameter of 240μm, with a transverse resolution of 1.8 μm and an axial resolution of 10 μm [69]. However, the miniaturization of TPM still requires effective fluorescence collection, compact and fast scanning mechanisms, and reduction of motion artifacts [70]. Recently, Angus Silver's team achieved real-time movement-corrected 3D two-photon imaging with submicrometer precision [71].…”

Section: Two-photon/multi-photon Microscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced high resolution three-dimensional imaging to visualize the cerebral neurovascular network in stroke

Zeng¹,

Chen²,

Yang³

et al. 2022

Int. J. Biol. Sci.

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As an important method to accurately and timely diagnose stroke and study physiological characteristics and pathological mechanism in it, imaging technology has gone through more than a century of iteration. The interaction of cells densely packed in the brain is three-dimensional (3D), but the flat images brought by traditional visualization methods show only a few cells and ignore connections outside the slices. The increased resolution allows for a more microscopic and underlying view. Today's intuitive 3D imagings of micron or even nanometer scale are showing its essentiality in stroke. In recent years, 3D imaging technology has gained rapid development. With the overhaul of imaging mediums and the innovation of imaging mode, the resolution has been significantly improved, endowing researchers with the capability of holistic observation of a large volume, real-time monitoring of tiny voxels, and quantitative measurement of spatial parameters. In this review, we will summarize the current methods of high-resolution 3D imaging applied in stroke.

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“…Thus, optical imaging is generally performed by fixing the heads of model animals under the microscope objectives. Apparently, this approach would not be suitable for studying the neural mechanisms of many social behaviors, such as caregiving, mating, and fighting ( Zong et al, 2017 ; Chen et al, 2020 ). Therefore, the development of a miniature fluorescence microscope that can be carried by the model animals, enabling real-time observation of neural activity in freely moving animals, is of great significance in neuroscience research.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances of optical miniscopes for in vivo imaging of neural activity in freely moving animals

2022

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To study neural mechanisms of ethologically relevant behaviors including many social behaviors and navigations, optical miniscopes, which can be carried by the model animals, are indispensable. Recently, a variety of optical miniscopes have been developed to meet this urgent requirement, and successfully applied in the study of neural network activity in free-moving mice, rats, and bats, etc. Generally, miniature fluorescence microscopes can be classified into single-photon and multi-photon fluorescence miniscopes, considering their differences in imaging mechanisms and hardware setups. In this review, we introduce their fundamental principles and system structures, summarize technical advances, and discuss limitations and future trends, for in vivo imaging of neural activity in freely moving animals.

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Miniature Fluorescence Microscopy for Imaging Brain Activity in Freely-Behaving Animals

Cited by 28 publications

References 49 publications

Toolbox for studying neurovascular coupling in vivo, with a focus on vascular activity and calcium dynamics in astrocytes

Toolbox for studying neurovascular coupling in vivo, with a focus on vascular activity and calcium dynamics in astrocytes

Advanced high resolution three-dimensional imaging to visualize the cerebral neurovascular network in stroke

Advances of optical miniscopes for in vivo imaging of neural activity in freely moving animals

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