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. 2010 Jul 1;2010(7):pdb.prot5452.
doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5452.

In vivo imaging of tumors

Edward Brown, Lance L Munn, Dai Fukumura, Rakesh K Jain

In vivo imaging of tumors

Edward Brown et al. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. .

Abstract

Light microscopy of tumors, as for other thick, scattering tissues such as the brain or the developing embryo, is limited by light penetration and optical access. because of these problems, epifluorescence and confocal microscopy are typically limited to the outer 50-100 microm of the accessible tumor tissue. Most mouse tumors must be exteriorized for examination under the light microscope, a procedure that limits the duration and repeatability of imaging. this protocol describes the generation of chronic window preparations in the mouse. These preparations allow an implanted tumor to grow for several weeks in an optically accessible location in vivo, making it possible to examine the living tumor with high-resolution light microscopy in a repetitive manner. Two chronic window preparations are described: (1) the dorsal skinfold chamber, which allows in vivo imaging of tumors growing in the subcutaneous space, and (2) the cranial window, which allows in vivo imaging of tumors growing on the brain surface.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Dorsal skinfold chamber.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Cross section of the dorsal skinfold chamber.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Cranial window.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
A human soft tissue sarcoma (HSTS) was implanted in a dorsal skinfold chamber in a severe combined immunodeficient mouse and allowed to grow for 2 wk. The mouse was then treated with the hormone relaxin for another 2 wk via an implanted osmotic pump. During the treatment, the tumor was imaged repeatedly using second harmonic generation to observe fibrillar collagen. Images from day 1 (left) and day 14 (right) of treatment are shown. Each image is a maximum intensity projection of 20 images taken in 5-μm steps, and is 500 μm across.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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