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Intravital Two-Photon Excitation Microscopy in Neuroscience: General Concepts and Applications

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Abstract

Multiphoton excitation microscopy has revolutionized biomedical research during the last two decades by enabling high resolution fluorescent microscopy in intact tissues. This feature makes two-photon excitation (2PE) microscopy ideal for intravital imaging of neural tissue, permitting the observation of structural and functional neuronal dynamics in undisrupted neural circuits. Here we review the fundamental concepts of intravital 2PE microscopy, describe methods and techniques associated with it, and highlight the most significant findings reported on neuron and glia structure dynamics as well as on neuronal activity using this in vivo imaging technique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Genetics, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA

    J. Tiago Gonçalves

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave. SL-83, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Ricardo Mostany

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  1. J. Tiago Gonçalves
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Correspondence to Ricardo Mostany .

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  1. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Roberto Weigert

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Gonçalves, J.T., Mostany, R. (2014). Intravital Two-Photon Excitation Microscopy in Neuroscience: General Concepts and Applications. In: Weigert, R. (eds) Advances in Intravital Microscopy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9361-2_1

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