Dancker Tobias A, Elhawy Mohamed Ibrahem, Rittershauß Ramona, Tian Qinghai, Schwarz Yvonne, Hoffmann Markus D A, Carlein Christopher, Wyatt Amanda, Wahl Vanessa, Speyerer Daniel, Kandah Alaa, Boehm Ulrich, Prates Roma Leticia, Bruns Dieter, Lipp Peter, Krasteva-Christ Gabriela, Lauterbach Marcel A
Molecular Imaging, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, building 48, 66421, Homburg, Saarland, Germany.
Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Kirrberger Str. 100, building 61, 66421, Homburg, Saarland, Germany.
Small. 2025 May;21(21):e2411341. doi: 10.1002/smll.202411341. Epub 2025 Apr 1.
Microendoscopy, a crucial technology for minimally invasive investigations of organs, facilitates studies within confined cavities. However, conventional microendoscopy is often limited by probe size and the constraint of using a single excitation wavelength. In response to these constraints, a multichannel microendoscope with a slender profile of only 360 µm is engineered. Functional signals both in situ and in vivo are successfully captured from individual single cells, employing a specially developed software suite for image processing, and exhibiting an effective resolution of 4.6 µm, allowing for the resolution of subcellular neuronal structures. This system enabled the first examination of calcium dynamics in vivo in murine tracheal tuft cells (formerly named brush cells) and in situ in kidney podocytes. Additionally, it recorded ratiometric redox reactions in various biological settings, including intact explanted organs and pancreatic islet cultures. The flexibility and streamlined operation of the microendoscopic technique open new avenues for conducting in vivo research, allowing for studies of tissue and organ function at cellular resolution.
显微内镜检查是用于器官微创检查的关键技术，有助于在有限的腔内进行研究。然而，传统的显微内镜检查通常受到探头尺寸和使用单一激发波长的限制。针对这些限制，设计了一种外形纤细、仅360微米的多通道显微内镜。利用专门开发的图像处理软件套件，成功地从单个单细胞捕获了原位和体内的功能信号，有效分辨率为4.6微米，能够分辨亚细胞神经元结构。该系统首次实现了对小鼠气管簇状细胞（原称刷状细胞）体内钙动力学和肾足细胞原位钙动力学的检测。此外，它还记录了各种生物环境中的比率氧化还原反应，包括完整的离体器官和胰岛培养物。显微内镜技术的灵活性和简化操作开辟了体内研究的新途径，允许在细胞分辨率下研究组织和器官功能。
