Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Visualization and quantification of injury to the ciliated epithelium using quantitative flow imaging and speckle
Ute A Gamm1, Brendan K Huang2, Emily K Mis3
1Yale University, Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
Abstract:
Mucociliary flow is an important defense mechanism in the lung to remove inhaled pathogens and pollutants. Disruption of ciliary flow can lead to respiratory infections. Multiple factors, from drugs to disease can cause an alteration in ciliary flow. However, less attention has been given to injury of the ciliated epithelium. In this study, we show how optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to investigate injury to the ciliated epithelium in a multi-contrast setting. We used particle tracking velocimetry (PTV-OCT) to investigate the cilia-driven flow field and 3D speckle variance imaging to investigate size and extent of injury caused to the skin of Xenopus embryos. Two types of injuries are investigated, focal injury caused by mechanical damage and diffuse injury by a calcium chloride shock. We additionally investigate injury and regeneration of cilia to calcium chloride on ex vivo mouse trachea. This work describes how OCT can be used as a tool to investigate injury and regeneration in ciliated epithelium.
