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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Intravital Microscopy for Imaging Subcellular Structures in Live Mice Expressing Fluorescent Proteins
Published on: September 1, 2013
Imaging membrane remodeling during regulated exocytosis in live mice
Akiko Shitara1, Roberto Weigert1
1Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Section, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Dr. 303A, Bethesda, MD 20892-4340, United States.
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In this mini-review we focus on the use of time-lapse light microscopy to study membrane remodeling during protein secretion in live animals. In particular, we highlight how subcellular intravital microscopy has enabled imaging the dynamics of both individual secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane, during different steps in the exocytic process. This powerful approach has provided us with the unique opportunity to unravel the role of the actin cytoskeleton in regulating this process under physiological conditions, and to overcome the shortcomings of more reductionist model systems.
