Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Intravital (live tissue) imaging is a powerful tool to directly visualize cells and their behaviour within their appropriate anatomical context. This technology has many applications to different fields of cell biology, immunology, neuroscience, and other investigations of cell physiology. This application is to support the acquisition of two upgrades to an existing multiphoton confocal microscope that will overcome some of the challenges inherent to imaging live tissues. Tissue movement due to physiological processes, such as breathing, remains a technical hurdle to intravital microscopy. To address this, we propose to acquire an Image Stabilization Tripod that physically moves the microscope objective to match the biological movement of the tissue. Another challenge to intravital microscopy is access to the tissue itself. Standard multiphoton microscope objectives are large compared to typical small animal models (ex. mice and rats), and sometimes extensive surgery is required in order to make sufficient space. To address this issue, we propose to acquire a Needle Objective Endoscope, that uses a very thin (<1mm), rotating probe as a periscope. This will allow access to deep or otherwise inaccessible tissues with minimal surgery. Together, these upgrades will considerably enhance the capabilities of the existing microscope, increase the efficiency and types of studies that can be performed using it, and broaden the user base and the number of trainees that have access to this important imaging technology.