NIR-MAXWELL Results Describe 800-µm Vessel Imaging in Uncleared Fixed Mouse Brains

Imaging fixed mouse brains without clearing

The research group says it developed NIR-MAXWELL by combining X-ray light-sheet microscopy with NIR detection. In reported tests using uncleared, extracted and fixed mouse brains whose blood vessels were filled with a phosphor-containing material, the system visualized continuous vascular structures to 800 µm from the brain surface.

In the reported comparison on the same uncleared, extracted and fixed mouse-brain sample, continuous vascular structures were identified to 300 µm from the brain surface using visible-light detection.

The team reports that near-infrared detection extended the depth at which continuous vessel structures could be identified to 800 µm—about 2.7 times the visible-light result—under its imaging and analysis conditions.

Distinguishing the 800-µm result from clinical use

The reported result suggests a way to examine deeper three-dimensional vascular structures in biological tissue without a clearing treatment, which can require time and may alter tissue size. The demonstration is limited to fixed mouse-brain samples and does not establish clinical use or medical benefit.