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Live-animal imaging of renal function by multiphoton microscopy
Kenneth W Dunn1, Timothy A Sutton, Ruben M Sandoval
1Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Current Protocols in Cytometry
|October 9, 2012
Summary
Intravital microscopy enables high-resolution imaging of living kidneys, revealing cellular structures and functions. This advanced technique uses multiphoton fluorescence microscopy to study kidney processes in real-time within intact animals.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Microscopy
- Renal Biology
Background:
- Intravital microscopy combines cellular resolution with in vivo relevance.
- Recent advancements include multiphoton fluorescence microscopy for deep tissue imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the application of multiphoton intravital microscopy for studying the living kidney.
- To highlight its capability for subcellular resolution imaging of kidney structures and functions.
Main Methods:
- Administering fluorescent probes to anesthetized, surgically prepared animals.
- Acquiring images using multiphoton fluorescence microscopy for up to 3 hours.
- Utilizing digital image analysis on transferred high-speed network data.
Main Results:
- High-resolution characterization of glomeruli, tubules, and vasculature in the living kidney.
- Subcellular resolution imaging of deep kidney structures.
- Evaluation of various kidney functions including permeability, endocytosis, and flow.
Conclusions:
- Multiphoton intravital microscopy is a powerful tool for in vivo renal research.
- This technique allows detailed assessment of kidney structure and dynamic physiological processes.
- It supports the study of cellular functions like apoptosis and mitochondrial activity in the intact kidney.
