INVESTIGATION OF DEVELOPING EMBRYONIC MORPHOLOGY USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Improved imaging of morphological changes has the potential of offerin g new insight into the complex process of embryonic development. Optic al coherence tomography (OCT) is a new imaging technique for performin g in vivo cross-sectional imaging of architectural morphology by measu ring backscattered infrared light. This study investigates the applica tion of OCT for imaging developing structure in Rana pipiens, Xenopus laevis, and Brachydanio rerio. Images are compared to conventional his tological baselines. Cross-sectional imaging can be performed and stru ctural morphology identified at greater imaging depths than possible w ith confocal and light microscopy. Repeated OCT imaging may be perform ed in vivo in order to track structural changes throughout development . (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.