Tissue stiffness mapping by light sheet elastography

Abstract

ABSTRACTTissue stiffness plays a crucial role in regulating morphogenesis, yet most existing measurement techniques cannot be appliedin vivo. The few methods that do permit quantification of 3D tissue stiffnessin vivoare invasive and offer low spatial and temporal resolution. Therefore, the dynamic progression of tissue stiffness cannot be monitored and mechanisms underlying how tissue stiffness regulates morphogenesis remain elusive. Here, we introduce light sheet elastography, a noninvasive method that couples low frequency shear waves with light sheet fluorescence microscopy. With this method, we achievedin totostiffness mapping of organ-stage mouse and zebrafish embryos at cellular resolution. The versatility of the method enabled time-lapse stiffness mapping during tissue remodelling and of the beating embryonic heart. This method presents new opportunities for uncovering the dynamic regulation and consequences of tissue stiffness during morphogenesis.