In Situ Imaging
In Situ Imaging - Related Videos
11:26
In Situ Ca2+ Imaging of the Enteric Nervous System
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Cited by 24 •
2015
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a network of neurons and glia located in the gut wall that controls intestinal reflexes. This protocol describes methods for recording the activity of enteric neurons and glia in live preparations of ENS using Ca2+ imaging.
15:00
In situ Imaging of the Mouse Thymus Using 2-Photon Microscopy
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Cited by 21 •
2008
We present step-by-step instructions for the generation of neonatal chimeras as well as the dissection and preparation of the thymus for ex vivo imaging by 2-Photon Microscopy.
13:49
High-resolution Fiber-optic Microendoscopy for in situ Cellular Imaging
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Cited by 84 •
2011
In many biological and clinical situations it is advantageous to study cellular processes as they evolve in their native microenvironment. Here we describe the assembly and use of a low-cost fiber-optic microscope which can provide real time imaging in cell culture, animal studies, and clinical patient studies.
08:00
Whole-Mount In Situ Hybridization
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2023
Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WMISH) is a common technique used for visualizing the location of expressed RNAs in embryos. In this process, synthetically produced RNA probes are first complementarily bound, or "hybridized," to the transcripts of target genes. Immunohistochemistry or fluorescence is then used to detect these RNA hybrids, revealing spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression. Unlike traditional in situ hybridization techniques, which require thin tissue sections whose...
07:35
Label-free in situ Imaging of Lignification in Plant Cell Walls
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Cited by 4 •
2010
A method based on confocal Raman microscopy is presented that affords label-free visualization of lignin in plant cell walls and comparison of lignification in different tissues, samples or species.
FAQs
Preserving the original arrangement lets researchers interpret cells, molecules, and engineered materials in relation to neighboring structures and interfaces. Extraction or isolation can remove those relationships, making it harder to connect location with behavior. In situ observations therefore help reveal how an engineered microenvironment or construct organizes biological activity and how nearby components relate to one another.
Optical contrast can make structures visible without specifying a molecular target, whereas fluorescent probes, genetically encoded reporters, and other labels provide signals tied to selected cells, molecules, or activities. Microscopy then records those signals in the intact sample. The chosen signal determines which feature or activity can be visualized and linked to its surrounding context.
Following cells or materials over time can show changes that a single observation would miss. In living tissues and developing constructs, sequential imaging can document cell behavior, tissue organization, or material degradation as these processes unfold. This temporal record helps connect evolving structural patterns with biological function rather than treating each state as an isolated endpoint.
A practical workflow begins by keeping the sample, tissue, or construct intact, then selecting an appropriate optical contrast method, fluorescent probe, genetically encoded reporter, or other label. Microscopy detects the resulting signal, while the recorded images are interpreted for spatial relationships and changes over time. This process links image acquisition to evaluation of an engineered system.
Bioengineers can apply the approach to several readouts, including cell behavior within a construct, degradation of a biomaterial, organization of engineered tissue, and interactions at material or device interfaces. These observations place performance in its local context, allowing researchers to assess whether a designed microenvironment produces the intended biological arrangement or activity.
By retaining location and timing information, results can connect a design feature with a biological response. Imaging may show how an engineered microenvironment relates to cell behavior, tissue organization, or interface interactions. Such evidence supports evaluation and refinement of biomaterials and devices because researchers can relate structural changes within the construct to its observed biological function.