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Live imaging of neural structure and function by fibred fluorescence microscopy
Author(s) -
Vincent Pierre,
Maskos Uwe,
Charvet Igor,
Bourgeais Laurence,
Stoppini Luc,
Leresche Nathalie,
Changeux JeanPierre,
Lambert Régis,
Meda Paolo,
PaupardinTritsch Danièle
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/sj.embor.7400801
Subject(s) - microscopy , fluorescence microscope , central nervous system , neurophysiology , resolution (logic) , neuroscience , peripheral nervous system , anatomy , biology , biomedical engineering , computer science , biological system , artificial intelligence , fluorescence , pathology , optics , medicine , physics
Only a few methods permit researchers to study selected regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems with a spatial and time resolution sufficient to image the function of neural structures. Usually, these methods cannot analyse deep‐brain regions and a high‐resolution method, which could repeatedly probe dynamic processes in any region of the central and peripheral nervous systems, is much needed. Here, we show that fibred fluorescence microscopy—which uses a small‐diameter fibre‐optic probe to provide real‐time images—has the spatial resolution to image various neural structures in the living animal, the consistency needed for a sequential, quantitative evaluation of axonal degeneration/regeneration of a peripheral nerve, and the sensitivity to detect calcium transients on a sub‐second timescale. These unique features should prove useful in many physiological studies requiring the in situ functional imaging of tissues in a living animal.