Large field-of-view metabolic profiling of murine brain tissue following morphine incubation using label-free multiphoton microscopy

Carlos A. Renteria, Jaena Park, Chi Zhang, Janet E. Sorrells, Rishyashring R. Iyer, Kayvan F. Tehrani, Alejandro De la Cadena, Stephen A. Boppart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Although the effects on neural activation and glucose consumption caused by opiates such as morphine are known, the metabolic machinery underlying opioid use and misuse is not fully explored. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) techniques have been developed for optical imaging at high spatial resolution. Despite the increased use of MPM for neural imaging, the use of intrinsic optical contrast has seen minimal use in neuroscience. New Method: We present a label-free, multimodal microscopy technique for metabolic profiling of murine brain tissue following incubation with morphine sulfate (MSO4). We evaluate two- and three-photon excited autofluorescence, and second and third harmonic generation to determine meaningful intrinsic contrast mechanisms in brain tissue using simultaneous label-free, autofluorescence multi-harmonic (SLAM) microscopy. Results: Regional differences quantified in the cortex, caudate, and thalamus of the brain demonstrate region-specific changes to metabolic profiles measured from FAD intensity, along with brain-wide quantification. While the overall intensity of FAD signal significantly decreased after morphine incubation, this metabolic molecule accumulated near the nucleus accumbens. Comparison with existing methods: Histopathology requires tissue fixation and staining to determine cell type and morphology, lacking information about cellular metabolism. Tools such as fMRI or PET imaging have been widely used, but lack cellular resolution. SLAM microscopy obviates the need for tissue preparation, permitting immediate use and imaging of tissue with subcellular resolution in its native environment. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of SLAM microscopy for label-free investigations of neural metabolism, especially the intensity changes in FAD autofluorescence and structural morphology from third-harmonic generation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number110171
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Methods
Volume408
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2024

Keywords

  • Label-free imaging
  • Metabolism
  • Morphine
  • Multiphoton microscopy
  • Nonlinear optics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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