Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

In Vivo Visualization of Calcium Transients during Fertilization and Early Development in C. elegans
Published on: July 12, 2024
Second harmonic imaging of exocytosis at fertilization
Andrew C Millard1, Mark Terasaki, Leslie M Loew
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, 06030-1507, USA.
Abstract:
Second harmonic generation offers an important alternative and complement to fluorescence for the imaging of cellular structure and function. Staining the eggs of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus, with the styryl dye di-8-ANEPPS, we have observed large changes in both second harmonic generation and two-photon fluorescence after fertilization, consistent with the dynamics of exocytosis of cortical granules. With nonlinear imaging on a scanning microscope, we are able to visualize the wave of exocytosis in real time.

