title: Long-term imaging of mouse embryos using adaptive harmonic generation microscopy.
abstract: We present a detailed description of an adaptive harmonic generation (HG) microscope and culture techniques that permit long-term, three-dimensional imaging of mouse embryos. HG signal from both pre- and postimplantation stage (0.5-5.5 day-old) mouse embryos are fully characterized. The second HG images reveal central spindles during cytokinesis whereas third HG images show several features, such as lipid droplets, nucleoli, and plasma membranes. The embryos are found to develop normally during one-day-long discontinuous HG imaging, permitting the observation of several dynamic events, such as morula compaction and blastocyst formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thayil
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jesacher
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007834:Lasers; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009028:Morula / Q000166:cytology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods