Intravital imaging of adriamycin-induced renal pathology using two-photon microscopy and optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Adriamycin (doxorubicin), a common cancer chemotherapeutic drug, can be used to induce a model of chronic progressive glomerular disease in rodents. In our studies, we evaluated renal changes in a rat model after Adriamycin injection using two-photon microscopy (TPM), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Doppler OCT (DOCT). Taking advantage of deep penetration and fast scanning speed for three-dimensional (3D) label-free imaging, OCT/DOCT system was able to reveal glomerular and tubular pathology noninvasively and in real time. By imaging renal pathology following the infusion of fluorophore-labeled dextrans of different molecular weights, TPM can provide direct views of glomerular and tubular flow dynamics with the onset and progression of renal disease. Specifically, glomerular permeability and filtration, proximal and distal tubular flow dynamics can be revealed. 6–8 weeks after injection of Adriamycin, TPM and OCT/DOCT imaging revealed glomerular sclerosis, compromised flow across the glomerular wall, tubular atrophy, tubular dilation, and variable intra-tubular flow dynamics. Our results indicate that TPM and OCT/DOCT provide real-time imaging of renal pathology in vivo that has not been previously available using conventional microscopic procedures.