Video files relating to technique, imaging and modelling of LSTM: Light Sheet Theta Microscopy, for rapid high-resolution imaging of large biological samples

This dataset consists of 8 video files in openly accessible .mp4 or .mov format. These videos relate to the development of the imaging technique LSTM: Light Sheet Theta Microscopy for rapid high-resolution imaging of large biological samples; an approach designed to overcome the limitations of 'standard' Light Sheet microscopy LSM in terms of lateral dimensions and imaging quality, while preserving the benefits of LSM in terms of imaging resolution, depth and speed.

In LSM, the 'lightsheet' illuminates the specimen perpendicular to the direction of observation, creating fluorescence in only thin slice. This 'orthogonal' approach minimises photo bleaching and allows high speed imaging, for example of intact biological tissue, but requires unhindered optical access along the light sheet, with e.g. reduced image quality toward the centre of the image due to light scattering.

LSTM uses two symmetrically-arranged oblique light-sheets, generated using independent illumination objectives, for rapid high-resolution imaging of large samples.

The videos in this collection present an animation of the LSTM implementation, a comparison of volumes in 1-AS and 2-AS modes, along with high-resolution imaging of mouse and rat nervous system and vascular tissue, as well as rapid volumetric imaging of highly motile Hydra.