Nonlinear-Optical Label-Free Multimodal Imaging of Neurons, Astrocytes and Gliovascular Interfaces

Nonlinear microscopy techniques are widely used in the field of biophotonics thanks to their ability to image in highly scattering tissues such as brain [1]. Techniques that use intrinsic sources of contrast rather than exogenous labels are of great interest, because they are suitable not only for fundamental biological research but also for clinical applications [2]. Neurons are the most studied cells in the central nervous system of mammals. However, in certain parts of brain glial cells called astrocytes outnumber neurons. Historically, astrocytes considered to be simple support cells that structure the brain and control blood brain barrier, but recently were discovered to have great functional diversity and play many roles in healthy tissues as well as in CNS disorders [3].