title: Fast 3D visualization of endogenous brain signals with high-sensitivity laser scanning photothermal microscopy.
abstract: A fast, high-sensitivity photothermal microscope was developed by implementing a spatially segmented balanced detection scheme into a laser scanning microscope. We confirmed a 4.9 times improvement in signal-to-noise ratio in the spatially segmented balanced detection compared with that of conventional detection. The system demonstrated simultaneous bi-modal photothermal and confocal fluorescence imaging of transgenic mouse brain tissue with a pixel dwell time of 20 μs. The fluorescence image visualized neurons expressing yellow fluorescence proteins, while the photothermal signal detected endogenous chromophores in the mouse brain, allowing 3D visualization of the distribution of various features such as blood cells and fine structures probably due to lipids. This imaging modality was constructed using compact and cost-effective laser diodes, and will thus be widely useful in the life and medical sciences.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Ultrafast Laser Research Center, The University of Electro-Communications, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan; JST, CREST, K' Gobancho, 7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadatsune
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayashi-Takagi
authors.affiliation: JST, CREST, K' Gobancho, 7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan; Department of Structural Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.affiliation: Advanced Ultrafast Laser Research Center, The University of Electro-Communications, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan; JST, CREST, K' Gobancho, 7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan; Department of Electrophysics, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0971, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
keywords: (170.6900) Three-dimensional microscopy; (350.5340) Photothermal effects