In vivo and ex vivo imaging of intra-tissue elastic fibers using third-harmonic-generation microscopy.
Elastin is an essential and widespread structural protein in charge of the integrity on tissues and organs. In this study, we demonstrate that elastin is a major origin of the third-harmonic-generation (THG) contrast under Cr:forsterite laser excitation operating at 1230nm, with selective visualization inside many tissues such as lung tissues and arteries. In vivo imaging of the nude mouse elastic cartilage beneath the hypodermis by epi- THG microscopy keeps the high resolution and contrast in all three dimensions. Combined with second-harmonic-generation microscopy, THG microscopy exhibits the ability to show the extraordinary proliferation of elastic fibers for the ophthalmic disease of pterygium and the capability of distinguishable visualization from collagen.
Sun
Chi-Kuang
CK
Yu
Che-Hang
CH
Tai
Shih-Peng
SP
Kung
Chun-Ta
CT
Wang
I-Jong
IJ
Yu
Han-Chieh
HC
Huang
Hsiang-Ju
HJ
Lee
Wen-Jeng
WJ
Chan
Yi-Fan
YF