A groundbreaking advancement in biological research has emerged from Tsinghua University in China. Scientists have developed the RUSH3D system, a super intravital microscope designed to provide an unprecedented view of mammalian cell interactions within organs.
The RUSH3D microscope boasts a centimeter-scale field of view with subcellular resolution, enabling high-speed 3D imaging at 20 frames per second. Its capability for continuous observation over extended periods with minimal toxicity opens new avenues for research in oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.
In the realm of neuroscience, understanding the intricate interactions among vast populations of neurons is essential for unraveling complex functions such as intelligence and consciousness. The RUSH3D system allows researchers to observe the architecture and dynamics of neural circuits with single-cell precision.
Utilizing this innovative tool, the research team successfully conducted high-speed 3D observations of the cerebral cortex in live mice. They captured distinct response patterns across various cortical regions during multi-sensory stimulation and tracked neural responses with single-neuron accuracy over several consecutive days.
\"The traditional fluorescence microscopy allowed us to observe only part of an organ, such as a specific brain region in a mouse,\" explained Dai Qionghai, the study's corresponding author from Tsinghua University. \"The RUSH3D system, however, is akin to using 100 microscopes simultaneously, providing complete coverage of the mouse cortex and capturing the dynamic interactions of hundreds of thousands of neurons.\"
Reference(s):
China's super microscope expands insights of mammal cell interactions
cgtn.com
