In vivo imaging of the mouse reproductive organs, embryo transfer, and oviduct cilia dynamics using optical coherence tomography

Abstract

The oviduct (or fallopian tube) serves as the site where a number of major reproductive events occur for the start of a new life in mammals. Understanding the oviduct physiology is essential to uncover hidden mechanisms of the human reproduction and its disorders, yet the current analysis of the oviduct that is largely limited to in vitro imaging is a significant technical hurdle. To overcome this barrier, we have recently developed in vivo approaches based on optical coherence tomography for structural and functional imaging of the mouse oviduct. In this chapter, we describe the details of such live imaging methods that allow for three-dimensional visualization of the oviduct wall morphology, microscale mapping of the oviduct cilia beat frequency, and high-resolution observation of the cumulus–oocyte complex at the cellular level. We expect this set of imaging tools will enable novel studies toward a comprehensive knowledge of the mammalian reproduction.