title: Phase variance optical coherence microscopy for label-free imaging of the developing vasculature in zebrafish embryos.
abstract: A phase variance optical coherence microscope (pvOCM) has been created to image blood flow in the microvasculature of zebrafish embryos, without the use of exogenous labels. The pvOCM imaging system has axial and lateral resolutions of 2.8 ?? ? m in tissue and imaging depth of more than 100 ?? ? m . Images of 2 to 5 days postfertilization zebrafish embryos identified the detailed anatomical structure based on OCM intensity contrast. Phase variance contrast offered visualization of blood flow in the arteries, veins, and capillaries. The pvOCM images of the vasculature were confirmed by direct comparisons with fluorescence microscopy images of transgenic embryos in which the vascular endothelium is labeled with green fluorescent protein. The ability of pvOCM to capture activities of regional blood flow permits it to reveal functional information that is of great utility for the study of vascular development.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Translational Imaging Center, Los Angeles, California 90089, United StatesbUniversity of Southern California, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Translational Imaging Center, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.
authors.forename: Le A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.affiliation: Varocto Inc., 1586 North Batavia Street, Orange, California 92867, United States.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fingler
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Translational Imaging Center, Los Angeles, California 90089, United StatesbUniversity of Southern California, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004867:Equipment Design; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development