Whole Mount Imaging to Visualize and Quantify Peripheral Lens Structure, Cell Morphology, and Organization

Grace Emin; Sadia T. Islam; Rylee E. King; Velia M. Fowler; Catherine Cheng; Justin Parreno

doi:10.3791/66017

Journal

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Biology

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Whole Mount Imaging to Visualize and Quantify Peripheral Lens Structure, Cell Morphology, and Organization

JoVE Journal
Biology

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JoVE Journal Biology

Whole Mount Imaging to Visualize and Quantify Peripheral Lens Structure, Cell Morphology, and Organization

864 Views

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05:45 min

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January 19, 2024

DOI:

10.3791/66017-v

DOI:

10.3791/66017-v

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05:45 min

January 19, 2024

•

2 Views

Grace Emin*¹, Sadia T. Islam*¹, Rylee E. King¹, Velia M. Fowler¹, Catherine Cheng², Justin Parreno^1,3

¹Department of Biological Sciences,University of Delaware, ²School of Optometry and Vision Science Program,Indiana University, ³Department of Biomedical Engineering,University of Delaware

Transcript

We aim to determine the molecular mechanisms that establishes the intricate lens architecture and how this established architecture regulates lens function in transparency and lens shape change. To advance the research in our field, we use new imaging methods that allows us to visualize the lens features with high spatial resolution, and this lets us perform quantitative image analysis of lens structures and cellular features. Whole mount imaging is advantageous over visualization of tissue sections or flat mounting procedures as it enables preservation of the overall 3D tissue structure.

This allows us to perform in-depth morpho metric examination and quantification on native lens structure. The lens is an integrated biological tissue with specialized functions that rely upon localization and depth dependent geometries of the cells and their associated structures. Using the imaging protocols and quantification methods demonstrated, will allow for a greater understanding of how lens structures and the complex organization of the lens are established.

Summary

The present protocols describe novel whole mount imaging for the visualization of peripheral structures in the ocular lens with methods for image quantification. These protocols can be used in studies to better understand the relationship between lens microscale structures and lens development/function.