Abstract
.Significance: The scattering and polarization characteristics of various organs of in vivo wildtype zebrafish in three development stages were investigated using a non-destructive and label-free approach. The presented results showed a promising first step for the usability of Jones-matrix optical coherence tomography (JM-OCT) in zebrafish-based research.Aim: We aim to visualize and quantify the scatter and polarization signatures of various zebrafish organs for larvae, juvenile, and young adult animals in vivo in a non-invasive and label-free way.Approach: A custom-built polarization-sensitive JM-OCT setup in combination with a motorized translation stage was utilized to investigate live zebrafish. Depth-resolved scattering (intensity and attenuation coefficient) and polarization (birefringence and degree of polarization uniformity) properties were analyzed. OCT angiography (OCT-A) was utilized to investigate the vasculature label-free and non-destructively.Results: The scatter and polarization signatures of the zebrafish organs such as the eye, gills, and muscles were investigated. The attenuation coefficient and birefringence changes between 1- and 2-month-old animals were evaluated in selected organs. OCT-A revealed the vasculature of in vivo larvae and juvenile zebrafish in a label-free manner.Conclusions: JM-OCT offers a rapid, label-free, non-invasive, tissue specific, and three-dimensional imaging tool to investigate in vivo processes in zebrafish in various development stages.
Highlights
In biomedical research, animal models are essential to understanding the pathogenesis of human diseases on a molecular and cellular level and to introduce new therapies
Since the development of important genetic techniques, such as mutagenesis, in the 1980s, the zebrafish has been established as an important animal model in preclinical research.[1]
Utilizing our prototype in combination with the motorized translation stage and two scanning lenses, the zebrafish in these different age groups were investigated. This opens the horizon for longitudinal investigations of in vivo zebrafish over various development stages
Summary
Animal models are essential to understanding the pathogenesis of human diseases on a molecular and cellular level and to introduce new therapies. Since the development of important genetic techniques, such as mutagenesis, in the 1980s, the zebrafish has been established as an important animal model in preclinical research.[1] Zebrafish possess several advantages over traditionally used rodent models such as mice. They are rather easy to handle, and their small size contributes to low costs per animal.[1] Zebrafish are highly fecund and provide a Journal of Biomedical Optics. The transparency of the zebrafish larvae enables an unprecedented direct analysis of pathologic processes in vivo, leading to the possibility of highly efficient studies.[4]
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