Three-dimensional imaging of human skin and mucosa by two-photon laser scanning microscopy

  1. Janine C. Malone1,4,
  2. Antoinette F. Hood1,
  3. Tameka Conley1,
  4. Jens Nürnberger2,
  5. Lee Ann Baldridge3,
  6. Jeffrey L. Clendenon2,
  7. Ken W. Dunn2,
  8. Carrie L. Phillips2,3

Article first published online: 4 SEP 2002

DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0560.2002.290802.x

Issue

Journal of Cutaneous Pathology

Journal of Cutaneous Pathology

Volume 29, Issue 8, pages 453–458, September 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Malone, J. C., Hood, A. F., Conley, T., Nürnberger, J., Baldridge, L. A., Clendenon, J. L., Dunn, K. W. and Phillips, C. L. (2002), Three-dimensional imaging of human skin and mucosa by two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 29: 453–458. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0560.2002.290802.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Dermatopathology,

  2. 2

    Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology,

  3. 3

    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA, and

  4. 4

    Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA

*Janine C. Malone MD, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tel: +1-502 583 1749 Fax: +1-502 852 4720 E-mail: drj9@aol.com

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 4 SEP 2002
  2. Article first published online: 4 SEP 2002
  3. Accepted September 7, 2001

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Background: Various structural components of human skin biopsy specimens are difficult to visualize using conventional histologic approaches.

Methods: We used two-photon microscopy and advanced imaging software to render three-dimensional (3D) images of in situ nerves, blood vessels, and hair follicles labeled with various fluorescent markers. Archived frozen human skin biopsy specimens were cryosectioned up to 150 µm in thickness and fluorescently stained with rhodamine- or fluorescein-labeled antibodies or lectins. Optical sections were collected by two-photon microscopy and the resulting data sets were analyzed in three dimensions using Voxx software.

Results: Reconstructed image volumes demonstrated the complex 3D morphology of nerves, blood vessels and adnexal structures in normal mucocutaneous tissue.

Conclusion: Two-photon microscopy and Voxx rendering software allow for detailed 3D visualization of structures within human mucocutaneous biopsy specimens, as they appear in situ, and facilitate objective interpretation of variations in their morphology. These techniques may be used to investigate disorders involving cutaneous structures that are difficult to visualize by means of traditional microscopy.

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