title: High-resolution three-dimensional in vivo imaging of mouse oviduct using optical coherence tomography.
abstract: The understanding of the reproductive events and the molecular mechanisms regulating fertility and infertility in humans relies heavily on the analysis of the corresponding phenotypes in mouse models. While molecular genetic approaches provide significant insight into the molecular regulation of these processes, the lack of live imaging methods that allow for detailed visualization of the mouse reproductive organs limits our investigations of dynamic events taking place during the ovulation, the fertilization and the pre-implantation stages of embryonic development. Here we introduce an in vivo three-dimensional imaging approach for visualizing the mouse oviduct and reproductive events with micro-scale spatial resolution using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This method relies on the natural tissue optical contrast and does not require the application of any contrast agents. For the first time, we present live high-resolution images of the internal structural features of the oviduct, as well as other reproductive organs and the oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells. These results provide the basis for a wide range of live dynamic studies focused on understanding fertility and infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA ; Equal Contribution.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA ; Equal Contribution.
authors.forename: Shang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: C Allison
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Behringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Larina
keywords: (110.4500) Optical coherence tomography; (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging; (170.5380) Physiology