title: Optical projection tomography as a tool for 3D microscopy and gene expression studies.
abstract: Current techniques for three-dimensional (3D) optical microscopy (deconvolution, confocal microscopy, and optical coherence tomography) generate 3D data by "optically sectioning" the specimen. This places severe constraints on the maximum thickness of a specimen that can be imaged. We have developed a microscopy technique that uses optical projection tomography (OPT) to produce high-resolution 3D images of both fluorescent and nonfluorescent biological specimens with a thickness of up to 15 millimeters. OPT microscopy allows the rapid mapping of the tissue distribution of RNA and protein expression in intact embryos or organ systems and can therefore be instrumental in studies of developmental biology or gene function.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council, Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK. james.sharpe@hgu.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ahlgren
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hecksher-Sørensen
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldock
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012984:Software; D013270:Stomach / Q000196:embryology; D014054:Tomography; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C496503:Foxa2 protein, mouse; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta