Unraveling Cell Processes: Interference Imaging Interwoven with Data Analysis

Abstract

The paper presents results on the application of interference microscopy and wavelet-analysis for cell visualization and studies of cell dynamics. We demonstrate that interference imaging of erythrocytes can reveal reorganization of the cytoskeleton and inhomogenity in the distribution of hemoglobin, and that interference imaging of neurons can show intracellular compartmentalization and submembrane structures. We investigate temporal and spatial variations of the refractive index for different cell types: isolated neurons, mast cells and erythrocytes. We show that the refractive dynamical properties differ from cell type to cell type and depend on the cellular compartment. Our results suggest that low frequency variations (0.1-0.6 Hz) result from plasma membrane processes and that higher frequency variations (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) are related to the movement of vesicles. Using double-wavelet analysis, we study the modulation of the 1 Hz rhythm in neurons and reveal its changes under depolarization and hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane. We conclude that interference microscopy combined with wavelet analysis is a useful technique for non-invasive cell studies, cell visualization, and investigation of plasma membrane properties.

Study of correlation between state and composition of lipid phase and change in erythrocytes structure under induction of oxidative processes

“…By phase images, we can judge about refractive index (RI) distribution in the cell, and by the phase height change about the RI dynamics, and hence about intracellular processes [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Role of Membrane Lipids in the Regulation of Erythrocytic Oxygen-Transport Function in Cardiovascular Diseases

“…The structure of erythrocytes and hemoglobin content was found by method of laser interference microscopy (LIM) in vitro [24–30] with the use of device MИИ-4M (Russia). The sediment (deposit) of erythrocytes after centrifugation was diluted 20 times with washing medium (10 mm of KH 2 PO 4 , 3.5 mm of KCl, 1.5 mm of MgCl 2 , 145 mm of NaCl, and 6 mm of glucose, pH 7.4).…”

Measurements of Movement and Diffusion Coefficients of Single Cells on Polymeric Surface from Image Analysis

“…It is of scientific interest to investigate these movements and processes in single cells [1][2][3][4]. There have been several reports on cell visualization and cell dynamics of single cells [5][6][7][8]. Brazhe et al studied cell visualization and cell dynamics using interference microscopy and wavelet analysis.…”