Noninvasive assessment of cutaneous alterations in mice exposed to whole body gamma irradiation using optical imaging techniques

Abstract

We report the results of a study carried out to investigate the potential of optical techniques such as optical coherence tomography, Mueller matrix spectroscopy, and cross-polarization imaging for noninvasive monitoring of the ionizing radiation exposure-induced alterations in cutaneous tissue of mice. Radiation dose-dependent changes were observed in tissue microvasculature and tissue optical parameters like retardance and depolarization as early as 1 h post radiation exposure. Results suggest that these optical techniques may allow early detection of radiation dose-dependent alterations which could help in screening of population exposed to radiation.

Comparison between reflectance confocal microscopy and 2‐photon microscopy in early detection of cutaneous radiation injury in a mouse model in vivo

“…Third, SHG imaging could be used for analyzing birefringence and depolarization in the skin dermis. Previously, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS‐OCT) and Mueller matrix spectroscopy have been used to detect the early stage changes of CRI by analyzing the changes in birefringence and depolarization of the skin dermis. The relationship between PS‐OCT and SHG imaging has been characterized and the results showed linear correlation between the PS‐OCT and SHG imaging, where the skin samples with higher birefringence values had higher collagen orientation.…”

Feasibility of speckle variance OCT for imaging cutaneous microvasculature regeneration during healing of wounds in diabetic mice

“…A punch wound of 0.5 mm diameter was induced in the ear pinnae of each mouse, with help of a needle. The ear pinnae of mice is a preferred site for microvascular measurements because of the much higher transparency of this tissue site and the fact that measurements here are less sensitive to breathing-induced motion [21]. For OCT imaging purpose, the mice were anesthetized by intra-peritoneal injection of a ketamine (80 mg kg −1 body weight): xylazine (10 mg kg −1 body weight) cocktail.…”