Washington University researchers develop hybrid brain microscopy

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a hybrid microscopy platform that simultaneously tracks neuronal activity and oxygen delivery. Led by Song Hu of the McKelvey School of Engineering, the team integrated two-photon microscopy (TPM) with photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) to create a single system known as TPM-PAM.

This technology allows for real-time observation of how brain vasculature delivers oxygen to neurons. In a study published in Nature Communications, the team successfully recorded single-neuron calcium activity alongside oxygen release from individual red blood cells in awake mice.

By combining TPM, which uses fluorescent probes to image neuronal activity, with PAM, which uses light-generated sound waves to record blood flow, researchers can better understand neurovascular coupling. This advancement may provide critical insights into the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, and other conditions where the connection between brain cells and blood vessels is disrupted.