title: Bioluminescence imaging in live cells and animals.
abstract: The use of bioluminescent reporters in neuroscience research continues to grow at a rapid pace as their applications and unique advantages over conventional fluorescent reporters become more appreciated. Here, we describe practical methods and principles for detecting and imaging bioluminescence from live cells and animals. We systematically tested various components of our conventional fluorescence microscope to optimize it for long-term bioluminescence imaging. High-resolution bioluminescence images from live neurons were obtained with our microscope setup, which could be continuously captured for several hours with no signs of phototoxicity. Bioluminescence from the mouse brain was also imaged noninvasively through the intact skull with a conventional luminescence imager. These methods demonstrate how bioluminescence can be routinely detected and measured from live cells and animals in a cost-effective way with common reagents and equipment.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Institute of Technology, Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, 313 Ferst Drive, Room 2127, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States; Emory University, Department of Neurosurgery, 101 Woodruff Circle, WMRB Rm 6337, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Jack K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.affiliation: Emory University , Department of Neurosurgery, 101 Woodruff Circle, WMRB Rm 6337, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Emory University , Department of Neurosurgery, 101 Woodruff Circle, WMRB Rm 6337, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Claire-Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gutekunst
authors.affiliation: Central Michigan University , College of Medicine and Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience, 1280 S. East Campus Street, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48859, United States.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hochgeschwender
authors.affiliation: Georgia Institute of Technology, Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, 313 Ferst Drive, Room 2127, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States; Emory University, Department of Neurosurgery, 101 Woodruff Circle, WMRB Rm 6337, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gross
keywords: bioluminescence; imaging; in vivo; live cell; luciferase