Media 1: Space-division multiplexing optical coherence tomography

Originally published in Optics Express on 12 August 2013 (oe-21-16-19219

Media 2: In situ structural and microangiographic assessment of human skin lesions with high-speed OCT

Originally published in Biomedical Optics Express on 01 October 2012 (boe-3-10-2636

Media 5: In situ structural and microangiographic assessment of human skin lesions with high-speed OCT

Originally published in Biomedical Optics Express on 01 October 2012 (boe-3-10-2636

Media 1: In situ structural and microangiographic assessment of human skin lesions with high-speed OCT

Originally published in Biomedical Optics Express on 01 October 2012 (boe-3-10-2636

Media 3: In situ structural and microangiographic assessment of human skin lesions with high-speed OCT

Originally published in Biomedical Optics Express on 01 October 2012 (boe-3-10-2636

A Circadian Clock Gene, <i>Cry</i>, Affects Heart Morphogenesis and Function in <i>Drosophila</i> as Revealed by Optical Coherence Microscopy

<div><p>Circadian rhythms are endogenous, entrainable oscillations of physical, mental and behavioural processes in response to local environmental cues such as daylight, which are present in the living beings, including humans. Circadian rhythms have been related to cardiovascular function and pathology. However, the role that circadian clock genes play in heart development and function in a whole animal <i>in vivo</i> are poorly understood. The <i>Drosophila</i> cryptochrome <i>(dCry)</i> is a circadian clock gene that encodes a major component of the circadian clock negative feedback loop. Compared to the embryonic stage, the relative expression levels of <i>dCry</i> showed a significant increase (>100-fold) in <i>Drosophila</i> during the pupa and adult stages. In this study, we utilized an ultrahigh resolution optical coherence microscopy (OCM) system to perform non-invasive and longitudinal analysis of functional and morphological changes in the <i>Drosophila</i> heart throughout its post-embryonic lifecycle for the first time. The <i>Drosophila</i> heart exhibited major morphological and functional alterations during its development. Notably, heart rate (HR) and cardiac activity period (CAP) of <i>Drosophila</i> showed significant variations during the pupa stage, when heart remodeling took place. From the M-mode (2D + time) OCM images, cardiac structural and functional parameters of <i>Drosophila</i> at different developmental stages were quantitatively determined. In order to study the functional role of <i>dCry</i> on <i>Drosophila</i> heart development, we silenced <i>dCry</i> by RNAi in the <i>Drosophila</i> heart and mesoderm, and quantitatively measured heart morphology and function in those flies throughout its development. Silencing of <i>dCry</i> resulted in slower HR, reduced CAP, smaller heart chamber size, pupal lethality and disrupted posterior segmentation that was related to increased expression of a posterior compartment protein, wingless. Collectively, our studies provided novel evidence that the circadian clock gene, <i>dCry</i>, plays an essential role in heart morphogenesis and function.</p></div

Silencing of <i>dCry</i> resulted in segment polarity phenotypes.

<p>(<b>a, c and d</b>) Control larva (24B-GAL4/+) showed regular denticle belts in posterior A6 and A7 segments. (<b>b, e and f</b>) Silencing of <i>dCry</i> (UAS-dCry-RNAi; 24B-GAL4) results in disorganized cuticular morphologies in A6 denticle belt and significantly increased, enlarged and disorganized A7 denticle belt (denoted by arrows). (<b>g, h</b>) Control flies showed normal and organized notum bristles and A6 and A7 denticle belts. (<b>i, j</b>) The few emerged UAS-dCry-RNAi; 24B-GAL4 adult flies showed a smaller notum with disoriented and up-pointing bristles in notum (arrow in <b>i</b>), and disorganized and partially absent A6 and A7 denticle belts (arrow in <b>j</b>).</p

Silencing of <i>dCry</i> resulted in segment polarity phenotypes.

<p>(<b>a, c and d</b>) Control larva (24B-GAL4/+) showed regular denticle belts in posterior A6 and A7 segments. (<b>b, e and f</b>) Silencing of <i>dCry</i> (UAS-dCry-RNAi; 24B-GAL4) results in disorganized cuticular morphologies in A6 denticle belt and significantly increased, enlarged and disorganized A7 denticle belt (denoted by arrows). (<b>g, h</b>) Control flies showed normal and organized notum bristles and A6 and A7 denticle belts. (<b>i, j</b>) The few emerged UAS-dCry-RNAi; 24B-GAL4 adult flies showed a smaller notum with disoriented and up-pointing bristles in notum (arrow in <b>i</b>), and disorganized and partially absent A6 and A7 denticle belts (arrow in <b>j</b>).</p

Silencing of <i>dCry</i> led to abnormal wing vein distribution and Wg expression.

<p>(<b>a, b and c</b>) Control fly with heterozygous <i>En-GAL4; UAS-GFP</i> alone (En-GAL4; UAS-GFP /+) exhibited normal wing. (<b>d, e and f</b>) Silencing of <i>dCry</i> in the wing (UAS-dCry-RNAi/UAS-GFP; En-GAL4) resulted in a marked increase in the acv, pcv (arrows in <b>e</b>), M, L3 and L4 wing veins. L4 vein was disorganized with extra veins in the distal part (arrow in <b>f</b>). (<b>g)</b> Control flies showed normal Wg expression pattern (a broad strip in the notum, a thinner strip in the prospective wing margin-dorsal/ventral (D/V) boundary, and a strip encircling the prospective wing blade). (<b>h)</b> Merged images of the expression of <i>Wg</i> and co-overexpression of GFP in the pattern of <i>En</i> in control flies. (<b>i)</b> In the dCry-RNAi wing discs, Wg expression level was markedly increased and Wg expression pattern was disorganized. (<b>j)</b> Merged images of the expression of Wg and co-overexpression of GFP in the pattern of <i>En</i> in UAS-dCry-RNAi/UAS-GFP; En-GAL4 flies.</p