Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
14:26
In vivo Quantification of G Protein Coupled Receptor Interactions using Spectrally Resolved Two-photon Microscopy
Published on: January 20, 2011
The Cytoscan Model E-II, a new reflectance microscope for intravital microscopy: comparison with the standard
A G Harris1, I Sinitsina, K Messmer
1Institute for Surgical Research, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. harris@icf.med.uni-muenchen.de
Journal of Vascular Research
|January 9, 2001
Summary
The new Cytoscan Model E-II uses orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging for microcirculation analysis. This portable intravital microscope provides valid measurements of microvascular diameter and red blood cell velocity without fluorescent dyes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Microcirculation Research
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy (IFM) is a standard for microcirculation imaging.
- IFM requires fluorescent dyes, which can have limitations.
- A new instrument, the Cytoscan Model E-II, utilizes orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Cytoscan Model E-II instrument against IFM.
- To assess the accuracy of OPS imaging for microvascular measurements.
- To compare OPS imaging with traditional IFM in a live animal model.
Main Methods:
- Experiments conducted on striated muscle in the dorsal skinfold chamber of awake Syrian hamsters.
- Comparison of measurements between Cytoscan Model E-II (OPS imaging) and IFM.
- Parameters measured: arteriolar diameter, venular diameter, and venular red blood cell velocity.
- Measurements taken under baseline conditions and after induced ischemia.
Main Results:
- Good agreement was found between OPS imaging and IFM for venular red blood cell velocity.
- Cytoscan measurements of arteriolar and venular diameters were consistently smaller than IFM by approximately 5 microm.
- This difference is attributed to Cytoscan measuring red blood cell column width versus IFM's luminal diameter measurement.
Conclusions:
- Orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging, as implemented in the Cytoscan Model E-II, provides valid measurements of microvascular diameter.
- OPS imaging allows for accurate assessment of red blood cell velocity in tissues.
- The Cytoscan Model E-II offers a dye-free alternative for microcirculation studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...
01:05Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy
Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or TIRF is an advanced microscopic technique used to visualize fluorophores in samples close to a solid surface with a higher refractive index, such as a glass coverslip. TIRF only allows fluorophores in proximity to the solid surface to be excited. When light from a medium with a lower refractive index (such as air) hits the glass coverslip at a critical angle, the light undergoes total internal reflection stead of passing through the glass.
01:37Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.
01:29Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...
01:28Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...