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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Measurement of Microtubule Dynamics by Spinning Disk Microscopy in Monopolar Mitotic Spindles
Published on: November 15, 2019
Probing microtubules polarity in mitotic spindles in situ using Interferometric Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy
S Bancelin1, C-A Couture1, M Pinsard1
1Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Energie Matériaux Télécommunications (INRS-EMT), Université du Québec, 1650 boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada.
Abstract:
The polarity of microtubules is thought to be involved in spindle assembly, cytokinesis or active molecular transport. However, its exact role remains poorly understood, mainly because of the challenge to measure microtubule polarity in intact cells. We report here the use of fast Interferometric Second Harmonic Generation microscopy to study the polarity of microtubules forming the mitotic spindles in a zebrafish embryo. This technique provides a powerful tool to study mitotic spindle formation and may be directly transferable for investigating the kinetics and function of microtubule polarity in other aspects of subcellular motility or in native tissues.
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