title: Imaging of human differentiated 3D neural aggregates using light sheet fluorescence microscopy.
abstract: The development of three dimensional (3D) cell cultures represents a big step for the better understanding of cell behavior and disease in a more natural like environment, providing not only single but multiple cell type interactions in a complex 3D matrix, highly resembling physiological conditions. Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) is becoming an excellent tool for fast imaging of such 3D biological structures. We demonstrate the potential of this technique for the imaging of human differentiated 3D neural aggregates in fixed and live samples, namely calcium imaging and cell death processes, showing the power of imaging modality compared with traditional microscopy. The combination of light sheet microscopy and 3D neural cultures will open the door to more challenging experiments involving drug testing at large scale as well as a better understanding of relevant biological processes in a more realistic environment.
authors.affiliation: Cell Imaging Unit, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Emilio J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gualda
authors.affiliation: iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica Oeiras, Portugal ; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.affiliation: iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica Oeiras, Portugal ; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica Oeiras, Portugal ; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: iBET - Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica Oeiras, Portugal ; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brito
keywords: 3D neural aggregates; calcium imaging; fluorescence microscopy; light-sheet fluorescence microscopy; live/dead assays