Evidence Hub

Investigation of developing embryonic morphology using optical coherence tomography

S. Boppart, M. Brezinski, B. Bouma, G. Tearney, James G. Fujimoto

Developmental Biology, 1996

169 citations

Abstract

Improved imaging of morphological changes has the potential of offering new insight into the complex process of embryonic development. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new imaging technique for performing in vivo cross-sectional imaging of architectural morphology by measuring backscattered infrared light. This study investigates the application of OCT for imaging developing structure in Rana pipiens, Xenopus laevis, and Brachydanio rerio. Images are compared to conventional histological baselines. Cross-sectional imaging can be performed and structural morphology identified at greater imaging depths than possible with confocal and light microscopy. Repeated OCT imaging may be performed in vivo in order to track structural changes throughout development.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free