The ability to image blood flow and even transgenic gene expression and cell labeling in animals has been accomplished for awhile now using technologies such as two-photon microscopy. An intriguing technique just published in Nature Methods by Yao et al. termed High-speed label-free functional photoacoustic microscopy possesses the capability for extremely rapid imaging of in vivo imaging of vascular blood flow.
This technology works by bouncing "laser beams off red blood cells" and has sub-millisecond resolution, which is a little faster than the time it takes a neuron to fire. Plus, it has a demonstrated spatial resolution much greater than that for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
The technology certainly has great potential for enhancing experimental capabilities for studying vascular events and circulation in animal models. I can only imagine this would be extremely useful in a clinical setting where resolution and time are key factors in imaging such events for diagnosis and selecting treatments for cerebrovascular disorders such as aneurisms and stroke. This report is exciting, and the images from the study are stunning. This post links to the editorial in Science on the study, and I have provided a link to the actual article below, although there is a paywall for full access to the article.
Junie Yao et al. (2015) High-speed label-free functional photoacoustic microscopy of mouse brain in action. http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.3336.html.
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