High-resolution structural and functional deep brain imaging using adaptive optics three-photon microscopy

We present an intravital imaging system based on three-photon excitation, indirect adaptive optics and active electrocardiogram gating which achieves near-diffraction-limited resolution up to 1.2mm in the mouse brain. We demonstrate the capability of our technique to study spine morphology and neuroglia function non-invasively throughout an entire cortical column and in the hippocampus in the mouse brain in-vivo.