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We describe the use of the fluorescent reporter compound CDr10b to label mid-intestinal structures in zebrafish larvae after simple immersion. CDr10b is deposited into the gut where it initially fills the lumen and is excreted. Using laser-mediated injury of the intestine, we show that CDr10b provides a useful readout of the integrity and repair of the epithelial cell barrier. In addition, CDr10b specifically labels the absorptive mid-intestine segment that is analogous to the mammalian small intestine. By perturbing retinoic acid signaling, which regulates the size of the mid-intestine segment, we show that CDr10b is a valuable tool to rapidly assess developmental malformations of the intestine in live animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracellular viscosity is a fundamental physical parameter that indicates the functioning of cells. In this work, we developed a simple boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based probe, BTV, for cellular mitochondria viscosity imaging by coupling a simple BODIPY rotor with a mitochondria-targeting unit. The BTV exhibited a significant fluorescence intensity enhancement of more than 100-fold as the solvent viscosity increased. Also, the probe showed a direct linear relationship between the fluorescence lifetime and the media viscosity, which makes it possible to trace the change of the medium viscosity. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that BTV could achieve practical applicability in the monitoring of mitochondrial viscosity changes in live cells through fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel structures of an near-infrared (NIR) tetraarylazadipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) series have been prepared. We designed the core structure containing two amido groups at the para-position of the aromatic rings. The amido group was incorporated to secure insensitivity to pH and to ensure a bathochromic shift to the NIR region. Forty members of aza-BODIPY compounds were synthesized by substitution of the acetyl group with commercial amines on the alpha bromide. The physicochemical properties and photostability were investigated and the fluorescence emission maxima (745~755 nm) were found to be in the near infrared (NIR) range of fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]