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Acousto-optic imaging is a technique that maps the optical properties of a thick scattering sample with millimetric resolution. The detection of the acousto-optic signal represents a challenge, because it is very weak among a strong parasitic signal. Various methods based on holography in photorefractive crystals or digital holography have been studied. Here dynamic holography is obtained with the gain medium Nd:YVO_4. We study the experimental feasibility of a detection system based on holography in a gain medium and show acousto-optic results obtained in a 5 mm slice of chicken breast.