Guess what? Researchers at Tsinghua University have just taken live imaging to a whole new level! Using a two-photon microscope and a custom support device, they can now peek into embryonic mouse brains without opening them up. 🐭🔬
Traditionally, watching a developing brain in a living embryo was tricky—images wavered, observation time was limited, and it was hard to see deep tissues. This new intrauterine technique fixes all that: it’s stable, long-lasting, offers a wide field, and can dive deep into brain tissue.
With this setup, scientists can track cerebral blood flow and monitor cell activity in real time. They even tagged excitatory and inhibitory neurons to map out how different cells migrate across the cerebral cortex during development. 🤯
Why’s this a big deal? The team captured live evidence of abnormal neuron migration in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Plus, they observed how embryonic immune cells react to environmental stress.
Shi Songhai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, says this framework and its analytical tools will be vital for future brain-development studies and tackling developmental brain disorders. 🌟
Bottom line: This cutting-edge imaging could pave the way for breakthroughs in neurotech and offer hope for new treatments down the line. Stay tuned! 😉
Reference(s):
Chinese researchers reveal new embryonic mouse brain development
cgtn.com
