Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Intravital microscopy is a powerful technique to observe dynamic processes with single-cell resolution in live animals. No intravital window has been developed for imaging the colon due to its anatomic location and motility, although the colon is a key organ where the majority of microbiota reside and common diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and colon cancer occur. Here we describe an intravital murine colonic window with a stabilizing ferromagnetic scaffold for chronic imaging, minimizing motion artifacts while maximizing long-term survival by preventing colonic obstruction. Using this setup, we image fluorescently-labeled stem cells, bacteria, and immune cells in live animal colons. Furthermore, we image nerve activity via calcium imaging in real time to demonstrate that electrical sacral nerve stimulation can activate colonic enteric neurons. The simple implantable apparatus enables visualization of live processes in the colon, which will open the window to a broad range of studies.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: Duke University, Cornell University, Duke Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Biophysics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,200
Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New York State Stem Cell Science, National Institutes of Health, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Office of Strategic Coordination
Awards: Age Compromises Novel Motility and Repair Functions in Stem Cell Niche of Intestinal Crypts, G2595216862, Advancing Cancer Therapy through Groundbreaking Research in Radiation Biology, G3829002440, G4251073071, G4395848965, Developing a comprehensive model for peripheral nerve stimulation of gastrointestinal function, G5387093809, G5449108438, Broad wavelength range Zeiss 780 NLO/confocal system for the Cornell Imaging Core, CLOSED LOOP SACRAL NERVE STIMULATION FOR INFLAMMATION, G6443763686, G6973859875, G7789338110, G7915841239, Robust Control of the Stem Cell Niche, G9000143440, G9000203772, Duke Training Grant in Digestive Diseases and Nutrition
OpenAlex ID: W2996419311