Adaptive optics two-photon microendoscopy for high-resolution and deep-brain imaging in vivo

Two-photon microscopy has become the method of choice for in vivo brain imaging in neuroscience research during the past decades owing to its inherent sectioning capability and large penetration depth in scattering tißues. By integrating with a gradient refractive index (GRIN) lens that implanted into the brain, two-photon microendoscopy further extends the imaging depth down to subcortical regions. However, the imaging resolution and field of view (FOV) are compromised due to the intrinsic aberrations of the inserted GRIN lens. Here, we developed an adaptive optics (AO) two-photon microendoscopy based on direct wavefront sensing that can measure and correct the aberrations of GRIN lens during in vivo brain imaging. Using our system, the diffraction-limited resolution was restored and the fine structures such as dendritic spines of hippocampal CA1 neurons can be clearly resolved over a much extended FOV. © COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.