In vivo monitoring of stem cells in Drosophila pupae using the radiative transfer equation-based fluorescence molecular tomography

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to realize in vivo monitoring of DSRed-expressing cell distribution in Drosophila pupae using fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT).

Procedures: The radiative transfer equation (RTE)-based FMT reconstruction algorithm is implemented using finite element method for mesoscopic- or millimeter-scale imaging. The RTE algorithm is validated using both simulated and phantom experimental data. For the in vivo experiments, DsRed fluorescent reporter was inserted into the middle of irradiation-responsive enhancer region (IRER) of Drosophila pupae and expressed only in IRER-open cells.

Results: Quantitatively accurate fluorescence images can be reconstructed from both simulated and phantom data. The in vivo images obtained agree well with the in vitro images obtained from confocal microscopy both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively.

Conclusion: DsRed-bearing stem cells in Drosophila pupae can be markedly imaged using our FMT approach. This study suggests that the technique described can be used for dynamic in vivo monitoring of biological events in mesoscopic-scale animals and facilitates basic biologic research such as genetics, epigenetics, and stem cells.