Long-term in vivo imaging of mouse spinal cord through an optically cleared intervertebral window.

ABSTRACT: The spinal cord accounts for the main communication pathway between the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Spinal cord injury is a devastating and largely irreversible neurological trauma, and can result in lifelong disability and paralysis with no available cure. In vivo spinal cord imaging in mouse models without introducing immunological artifacts is critical to understand spinal cord pathology and discover effective treatments. We developed a minimally invasive intervertebral window by retaining the ligamentum flavum to protect the underlying spinal cord. By introducing an optical clearing method, we achieve repeated two-photon fluorescence and stimulated Raman scattering imaging at subcellular resolution with up to 15 imaging sessions over 6-167 days and observe no inflammatory

SUBMITTER: Wu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9005710 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature