Deep Tissue Microscopic Imaging of the Kidney with a Gradient-Index Lens System

Intravital microscopy using two-photon excitation is proven to be a valuable tool for studying the kidney and associated disease processes. However, routine performance of intravital kidney imaging is limited by the fact that fluorescence signal is attenuated by the tissue and at certain tissue depth lost its strength completely. For most of the animal tissues, this finite imaging depth is limited to a few hundred microns. Currently it is not possible to non-invasively image the kidney beyond the superficial tissue layers of the cortex. This has imposed significant limitations on the animal models one can use for imaging since structure such the glomerulus is typically located below the superficial layer of the cortex that can not be imaged using a conventional fluorescence microscope. Here we report the use of a needle-like lens system based on gradient-index (GRIN) microlenses capable of transferring high quality fluorescence images of the tissue through a regular microscope objective for deep tissue imaging of the kidney. By combining this GRIN lens system with a Zeiss LSM 510 NLO microscope, we are able to extend the imaging depth for kidney tissues far beyond the few hundred microns limit. This GRIN lens imaging system provides an alternative microendoscopic imaging tool that will enhance current intravital kidney imaging techniques for studying structural and functional properties of local tissues at locations below the superficial layers of the kidney.