Wide-field optical coherence microscopy of the mouse brain slice

Abstract

The imaging capability of optical coherence microscopy (OCM) has great potential to be used in neuroscience research because it is able to visualize anatomic features of brain tissue without labeling or external contrast agents. However, the field of view of OCM is still narrow, which dilutes the strength of OCM and limits its application. In this study, we present fully automated wide-field OCM for mosaic imaging of sliced mouse brains. A total of 308 segmented OCM images were acquired, stitched, and reconstructed as an en-face brain image after intensive imaging processing. The overall imaging area was 11.2×7.0 mm (horizontal×vertical), and the corresponding pixel resolution was 1.2×1.2 μm. OCM images were compared to traditional histology stained with Nissl and Luxol fast blue (LFB). In particular, the orientation of the fibers was analyzed and quantified in wide-field OCM.

Visible light optical coherence microscopy of the brain with isotropic femtoliter resolution in vivo

“…In a version of OCT known as optical coherence microscopy (OCM) [2], high NA objectives improve transverse resolution at the expense of DOF. High transverse resolution OCM has revealed cortical myelination and neuronal cell bodies through intrinsic scattering in the rodent cortex [3–5]. …”

Polarization sensitive optical coherence microscopy for brain imaging

“…Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a viable solution for high-resolution brain imaging and mapping of large volumes of tissue [1, 2]. OCT is an interferometric technique that resolves the 3D microstructures in biological tissues.…”

Optical coherence microscopy in 1700 nm spectral band for high-resolution label-free deep-tissue imaging

“…The combination of OCT and confocal detection schemes also helps to improve the image contrast by the enhanced rejection capability of signals from out-of-focus. So far, OCM techniques have been successfully applied to visualize small details in various biological samples, such as myelin fibers and cerebral cortex in brain specimens18192021. One of the current critical issues in OCM is its shallow imaging depth, which is limited by light attenuation mainly due to multiple light scattering in samples and light absorption of water as well as in the case of OCT22.…”