title: Noninvasive in vivo imaging of pancreatic islet cell biology.
abstract: Advanced imaging techniques have become a valuable tool in the study of complex biological processes at the cellular level in biomedical research. Here, we introduce a new technical platform for noninvasive in vivo fluorescence imaging of pancreatic islets using the anterior chamber of the eye as a natural body window. Islets transplanted into the mouse eye engrafted on the iris, became vascularized, retained cellular composition, responded to stimulation and reverted diabetes. Laser-scanning microscopy allowed repetitive in vivo imaging of islet vascularization, beta cell function and death at cellular resolution. Our results thus establish the basis for noninvasive in vivo investigations of complex cellular processes, like beta cell stimulus-response coupling, which can be performed longitudinally under both physiological and pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital L1, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Speier
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nyqvist
authors.forename: Over
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: R Damaris
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Molano
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pileggi
authors.forename: Tilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moede
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilbertz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leibiger
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricordi
authors.forename: Ingo B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Leibiger
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caicedo
authors.forename: Per-Olof
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Berggren
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D007498:Iris / Q000601:surgery; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal