Real-Time, Two-Color Stimulated Raman Scattering Imaging of Mouse Brain for Tissue Diagnosis

J Vis Exp. 2022 Feb 1:(180):10.3791/63484. doi: 10.3791/63484.

Abstract

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy has emerged as a powerful optical imaging technique for tissue diagnosis. In recent years, two-color SRS has been shown to be able to provide hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-equivalent images that allow fast and reliable diagnosis of brain cancer. Such capability has enabled exciting intraoperative cancer diagnosis applications. Two-color SRS imaging of tissue can be done with either a picosecond or femtosecond laser source. Femtosecond lasers have the advantage of enabling flexible imaging modes, including fast hyperspectral imaging and real-time, two-color SRS imaging. A spectral-focusing approach with chirped laser pulses is typically used with femtosecond lasers to achieve high spectral resolution. Two-color SRS acquisition can be realized with orthogonal modulation and lock-in detection. The complexity of pulse chirping, modulation, and characterization is a bottleneck for the widespread adoption of this method. This article provides a detailed protocol to demonstrate the implementation and optimization of spectral-focusing SRS and real-time, two-color imaging of mouse brain tissue in the epi-mode. This protocol can be used for a broad range of SRS imaging applications that leverage the high speed and spectroscopic imaging capability of SRS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lasers
  • Mice
  • Microscopy
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman* / methods