Newsletter

Our cutting-edge in vivo imaging technology now allows for long-term observations of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampus and hypothalamus – deep within the brain – using precise surgical animal modeling methods.

We've upgraded existing chamber and window surgery techniques to enable a deeper insight into drug reaction mechanisms in degenerative brain diseases, aligning with current trends in research. Unlike conventional methods focused on the cortex and meninges, our precision surgery method minimizes bleeding and side effects while offering a more realistic view of deep brain tissue, facilitating in vivo environment imaging in celllular to subcellular resolution.

In this newsletter, discover the groundbreaking Cranial Imaging Cannula (CIC) surgical method, specially designed by IVIM Technology. It allows imaging of neural activity within the hippocampus and hypothalamus, both situated deep within the living brain tissue. Next, we introduce IVIM`s Needle Type Endomicroscopy and imaging technique to capture neural activity buried deep within the brain. Lastly, you will discover our Optical Clearing imaging technology, which eliminates unnecessary tissue interference, ensuring clear and precise imaging by reducing laser scattering.

In our pursuit of establishing a comprehensive protocol for imaging hippocampal and hypothalamic neural activity using the CIC method, IVIM`s dedicated research team has constructed a biomicroscopy module tailored to the unique requirements of CIC experiments. (Pic. 1) This modul encompasses all essential components, from CIC experiment tools to brain tissue mounting plates. 

For imaging the profound regions of brain tissue utilizing the CIC technique, we employ the IVM-CM3, specifically designed for two-photon mode imaging. This powerful tool enables imaging of neural tissue activity within the hippocampus and hypothalamus at a cellular level, pushing the boundaries of observation and research possibilities to new horizons.

Through meticulous optimization of bioimaging techniques utilizing Needle-Type Endomicroscopy, our research team has achieved depth-specific brain tissue imaging. After drilling the skull with a 3mm drill in the brain area of Bregma, needle type endomicroscopy is performed on the area to take imaging, no other optical clearing or other additional measures are taken. Leveraging Thy-1-YFP-16 transgenic mice, we successfully observed and captured images of brain tissue sections in the Cortex, Hippocampus, and Thalamus. After drilling the Bregma part of the Thy-1-YFP-16 mouse brain with a 3 mm drill, we slowly checked the coordinates of the brain tissue area using needle type endomicroscopy and stereotaxic mounting from the surface of the drilled area, and then proceeded with imaging for each tissue. This breakthrough paves the way for enhanced insights into neural activity at varying depths within the brain.

Picture 3. Fluorescence Observation of Thy1-YFP (H Line) Mouse Brain at the a) Brain Surface Layer (Pial Surface), b) Alveus Layer or White Matter, and c) Hippocampus Pyramidal Cells. d) Fluorescence Observation of YFP-Expressing Pyramidal Neurons in 3D Zoom Image. e, f) Confocal Coronial View of a Thy1-YFP-16 Brain Slice.

IVIM researchers and imaging application specialists conducted the extraction of the brain from a live animal to explore the inner workings of brain tissue using Thy-1-YFP-16 mice, a transgenic mouse model with neural tissue markers. Employing the IVM-CM3, a cutting-edge system equipped with two-photon mode imaging and high-speed real-time laser scanning capabilities, we investigated the feasibility of imaging brain tissue from multiple angles at varying depths of the entire brain, spanning from its surface to deep regions. Furthermore, leveraging the Z-axis cross-sectional imaging function, we captured images as deep as 2 millimeters within the brain tissue using two-photon mode microscopy. This advancement opens up new possibilities for in-depth exploration of the brain's internal mechanisms.