In Vivo Mouse Imaging
In Vivo Mouse Imaging - Related Videos
09:08
Multiple-mouse Neuroanatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Cited by 59 •
2011
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an increasingly popular tool for examining the phenotype of genetically altered mice. This article illustrates the methods necessary to achieve high-throughput phenotyping of genetically altered mice using multiple-mouse MRI.
04:32
Two-Photon In Vivo Imaging of the Mouse Retina
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2025
Source: Wang, Z., et al. Transpupillary Two-Photon In Vivo Imaging of the Mouse Retina. J. Vis. Exp. (2021).This video demonstrates a technique for in vivo retinal imaging using two-photon microscopy. Anesthetized mice are prepared for imaging by securing their heads, Applying eye lubricant, and placing a coverslip over the eye. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) expressing fluorescent proteins are first visualized using epifluorescence for alignment. Finally, two-photon imaging is employed,...
10:24
In vivo Imaging of the Mouse Spinal Cord Using Two-photon Microscopy
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Cited by 42 •
2012
A minimally invasive protocol to stabilize the mouse spinal column and perform repetitive in vivo spinal cord imaging using two-photon microscopy is described. This method combines a spinal stabilization device and an anesthetic regimen to minimize respiratory-induced movements and produce raw imaging data that require no alignment or other post-processing.
02:42
In Vivo Two-Photon Imaging of Microglial Dynamics in the Mouse Hippocampus
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2025
Source: Kamei, R., et. al., In Vivo Chronic Two-Photon Imaging of Microglia in the Mouse Hippocampus. J. Vis. Exp. (2022)The video demonstrates the setup and imaging process for in vivo two-photon microscopy of microglial dynamics in the hippocampal CA1 (Cornu ammonis 1) and dentate gyrus, ensuring optimal optical alignment and structural integrity assessment.
02:58
Two-Photon Microscopy for In Vivo Imaging of Mouse Brain Microvasculature
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2025
Source: Nishimura, C. et al. Quantification of Cerebral Vascular Architecture using Two-photon Microscopy in a Mouse Model of HIV-induced Neuroinflammation. J. Vis. Exp. (2016). This video demonstrates the in vivo visualization of cortical capillaries in the mouse brain using two-photon microscopy. It outlines the steps for injecting a fluorescent dye into an anesthetized mouse with a thin-skull cortical window, preparing the setup for imaging, and acquiring detailed images of brain...
FAQs
The detectable signal shapes the biological information obtained. Fluorescence and bioluminescence rely on reporter systems that generate measurable signals, whereas MRI, PET, and ultrasound measure physical contrasts within the animal. Consequently, researchers can select approaches suited to visualizing molecular activity, anatomy, physiology, or disease-related changes, depending on the question being investigated.
Reporter systems provide signals that make selected biological events visible in the living animal. Fluorescence or bioluminescence from these systems can connect molecular activity with changes observed across the whole mouse. This relationship helps researchers follow disease processes or treatment responses over time rather than examining molecular findings only after an endpoint.
Longitudinal imaging allows the same living mouse to be observed repeatedly as a condition develops or a treatment takes effect. This links molecular events with whole-animal outcomes and reduces reliance on repeated euthanasia. The resulting time-course information can clarify disease progression and treatment effects that may be difficult to infer from isolated endpoint measurements.
A study generally begins by defining the biological process to monitor, such as tumor growth, infection, inflammation, drug distribution, or therapeutic response. Researchers then select an imaging approach based on whether anatomy, physiology, disease activity, or a reporter-derived signal is needed, and acquire measurements across relevant stages to compare changes over time.
Living-mouse imaging is particularly useful when investigators need to follow a process rather than observe only a final state. Supported applications include monitoring tumor growth, infection, inflammation, drug distribution, and responses to therapy. Repeated observations can show how these conditions change within an individual animal and how treatment alters that trajectory.
In biology, imaging connects events at the molecular level with outcomes visible across the whole animal. That connection supports investigation of disease progression and treatment effects while reducing the need for repeated euthanasia. In preclinical research, the ability to obtain time-dependent observations can inform study design and provide a broader view of therapeutic responses.