Measurement of the ratio of forward-propagating to back-propagating second harmonic signal using a single objective

In this paper, we present a method to determine, for the first time, the ratio of forward-propagating second harmonic (SHG) signal to back-propagating SHG signal (F/B) in vivo on the surface of intact tissue samples without any biopsy or tissue sectioning, using only epidetection (i.e., via a single objective lens). This method has the additional benefit of using the confocal detection apparatus already contained within common commercially available two-photon laser-scanning microscopes, and hence can allow the measurement of the SHG F/B ratio in vivo with minimal purchase of new equipment.