Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ.
Visualizing the three-dimensional morphology and spatial patterning of cells embedded deep within dense connective tissues of the musculoskeletal system has been possible only by utilizing destructive techniques. Here we utilize fructose-based clearing solutions to image cell connectivity and deep t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2015-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4291226?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819106438616711168 |
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| author | Sarah Calve Andrew Ready Christopher Huppenbauer Russell Main Corey P Neu |
| author_facet | Sarah Calve Andrew Ready Christopher Huppenbauer Russell Main Corey P Neu |
| author_sort | Sarah Calve |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Visualizing the three-dimensional morphology and spatial patterning of cells embedded deep within dense connective tissues of the musculoskeletal system has been possible only by utilizing destructive techniques. Here we utilize fructose-based clearing solutions to image cell connectivity and deep tissue-scale patterning in situ by standard confocal microscopy. Optical clearing takes advantage of refractive index matching of tissue and the embedding medium to visualize light transmission through a broad range of bovine and whole mount murine tissues, including cartilage, bone, and ligament, of the head and hindlimb. Using non-destructive methods, we show for the first time intercellular chondrocyte connections throughout the bulk of cartilage, and we reveal in situ patterns of osteocyte processes and the lacunar-canalicular system deep within mineralized cortical bone. Optical clearing of connective tissues is expected to find broad application for the study of cell responses in normal physiology and disease pathology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:38:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c11a373c1cda4514b77e5fab16e54042 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:38:09Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c11a373c1cda4514b77e5fab16e540422022-12-21T18:41:42ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01101e011666210.1371/journal.pone.0116662Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ.Sarah CalveAndrew ReadyChristopher HuppenbauerRussell MainCorey P NeuVisualizing the three-dimensional morphology and spatial patterning of cells embedded deep within dense connective tissues of the musculoskeletal system has been possible only by utilizing destructive techniques. Here we utilize fructose-based clearing solutions to image cell connectivity and deep tissue-scale patterning in situ by standard confocal microscopy. Optical clearing takes advantage of refractive index matching of tissue and the embedding medium to visualize light transmission through a broad range of bovine and whole mount murine tissues, including cartilage, bone, and ligament, of the head and hindlimb. Using non-destructive methods, we show for the first time intercellular chondrocyte connections throughout the bulk of cartilage, and we reveal in situ patterns of osteocyte processes and the lacunar-canalicular system deep within mineralized cortical bone. Optical clearing of connective tissues is expected to find broad application for the study of cell responses in normal physiology and disease pathology.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4291226?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Calve Andrew Ready Christopher Huppenbauer Russell Main Corey P Neu Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ. PLoS ONE |
| title | Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ. |
| title_full | Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ. |
| title_fullStr | Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ. |
| title_short | Optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ. |
| title_sort | optical clearing in dense connective tissues to visualize cellular connectivity in situ |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4291226?pdf=render |
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