title: Optical coherence tomography for high-resolution imaging of mouse development in utero.
abstract: Although the mouse is a superior model to study mammalian embryonic development, high-resolution live dynamic visualization of mouse embryos remain a technical challenge. We present optical coherence tomography as a novel methodology for live imaging of mouse embryos through the uterine wall thereby allowing for time lapse analysis of developmental processes and direct phenotypic analysis of developing embryos. We assessed the capability of the proposed methodology to visualize structures of the living embryo from embryonic stages 12.5 to 18.5 days postcoitus. Repetitive in utero embryonic imaging is demonstrated. Our work opens the door for a wide range of live, in utero embryonic studies to screen for mutations and understand the effects of pharmacological and toxicological agents leading to birth defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, 3605 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204, USA.
authors.forename: Saba H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Kirill V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Larin
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Larina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*