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Method Article

Two-Color Stimulated Raman Scattering Imaging of Mouse Brain Tissue

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May 29th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

Source: Espinoza, R., et al. Real-Time, Two-Color Stimulated Raman Scattering Imaging of Mouse Brain for Tissue Diagnosis. J. Vis. Exp. (2022).

The video demonstrates two-color stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) imaging of mouse brain tissue sections. Two synchronized laser beams are directed onto the tissue section to excite molecular vibrations, resulting in a relative intensity change in the beams. Lipids and proteins in the tissue are detected using distinct frequency pairs of the laser beams. The resulting signals are then assigned separate colors, creating a two-color image that helps identify the proteins and lipids in the tissue.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal samples have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate animal ethical review committee.

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Results

Optical setup diagram for Raman microscopy with pump and Stokes beams, sample analysis.

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Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
100 mm Achromatic LensTHORLABSAC254-100-BBroadband, 650 - 1,050 nm, achromatic lens focal length, 100 mm
20 MHz bandpass filterMinicircuitsBBP-21.4+Lumped LC Band Pass Filter, 19.2 - 23.6 MHz, 50 Ω
200 mm Achromatic LensTHORLABSAC254-200-BBroadband, 650 - 1,050 nm, achromatic lens focal length, 200 mm
Achromatic Half WaveplateUnion OpticWPA2210-650-1100-M25.4Broadband half waveplate
Achromatic Quarter WaveplateUnion OpticWPA4210-650-1100-M25.4Broadband quarter waveplate
Beam SamplerTHORLABSBSN1110:90 Plate Beamsplitter
Dichroic MirrorTHORLABSDMSP1000Other dichroics with a center wavelength around 1,000 nm can be used.
DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide)Sigma Aldrich472301Solvent for calibration of Raman shift. Other solvents with known Raman peaks can be used.
Electrooptic Amplitude ModulatorTHORLABSEO-AM-NR-C1Two EOMs are needed for orthogonal modulation and dual-channel imaging. Resonant version is recommended so lower driving voltage can be used.
False H&E Staining ScriptMatlab https://github.com/TheFuGroup/HE_Staining
Fanout BufferPRL-414BPulse Research Lab1:4 TTL/CMOS Fanout Buffer and Line Driver, for generating the EOM driving frequency and the reference to the lock-in
Fast PhotodiodeTHORLABSDET10A2Si Detector, 1 ns Rise Time
Frequency DividerPRL-220APulse Research LabTTL Freq. Divider (f/2, f/4, f/8, f/16), for generating 20MHz from the laser output.
Highly Dispersive Glass RodsUnion OpticCYLROD01High dispersion H-ZF52A Rod lens 120 mm, SF11 Rod lens 100 mm
Insight DS+Newport Laser system capable of outputting two synchronzied pulsed lasers (one fixed beam at 1, 040 nm and one tunable beam, ranging from 680-1,300 nm) with a repetition rate of 80 MHz.
Lock-in AmplifierLiquid InstrumentsMoku LabLock-in amplifier to extract SRS signal from the photodiode. A Zurich Instrument HF2LI or similar instrument can be used as well.
MirrorsTHORLABSBB05-E03-10Broadband Dielectric Mirror, 750 - 1,100 nm. Silver mirrors can also be used.
Motorized Delay StageZaberX-DMQ12P-DE52Delay stage for fine control of the temporal overlap of the pump and the Stokes lasers. Any other motorized stage should work.
Oil Immersion CondensorNikonCSC10031.4 NA. Other condensers with NA>1.2 can be used.
OscilloscopeTektronixTDS7054Any other oscilloscope with 400 MHz bandwdith or higher should work.
Phase ShifterSigaTekSF50A2For shifting the phase of the modulation frequency
PhotodiodeHamamatsu CorpS3994-01Silicon PIN diode with large area (10 x 10 cm2). Other diodes with large area and low capacitance can be used.
Polarizing Beam SplitterUnion OpticPBS9025-620-1000Broadband polarizing beamsplitter
Refactive Index Database refractiveindex.info
Retro-reflectorEdmund Optics34-408BBAR Right Angle Prism. Other prisms or retroreflector can be used.
RF Power AmplifierMinicircuitsZHL-1-2W+Gain Block, 5 - 500 MHz, 50 Ω
Scan MirrorsCambridge Technologies6215HWe used a 5mm mirror set with silver coating
ScanImageVidrioScanImage BasicLaser scanning microscope control software
Shortpass FilterTHORLABSFESH100025.0 mm Premium Shortpass Filter, Cut-Off Wavelength: 1,000 nm. For efficient suppression of the Stokes, two filters may be necessary.
Upright MicroscopeNikonEclipse FN1Any other microscope frame can be used. If a laser scanning microscope is available, it can be used directly. Otherwise, a galvo scanner and scan lens needed to be added to the microscope.
Water Immersion ObjectiveOlympusXLPLN25XWMP2The multiphoton 25X Objective has a NA of 1.05. Other similar objectives can be used.

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