Abstract
Purpose: Microscopic optical coherence tomography (mOCT) has an imaging resolution
of 1 μm in all voxel dimensions, but individual epithelial cells are difficult to
resolve due to lack of scattering contrast. Adding dynamic contrast processing to mOCT
(dmOCT) results in color images that enable visualization of individual cells and possibly
give information on cellular function via the calculation of a motility coefficient.
We propose this technique as a novel method of evaluating the ocular surface after
exposure to a toxic chemical, benzalkonium chloride (BAK).
Methods: Ex vivo cross-section images were acquired with a custom-built, frequencydomain
mOCT system. Eyes were explanted from healthy adult C57BL/6 mice and
imaged every 30 minutes with five sets of dmOCT scans at each imaging time. Total
epithelium and stroma thicknesses were measured from a single mOCT B-scan, and
measures of color changes (hue) and the motility coefficientwere acquired fromdmOCT
scans.
Results: After 30-minute exposures to 0.005% BAK, local motility decreased and total
epithelium thickness increased compared to controls. For basal epithelium cells, local
motility decreased after 60-minute exposures, and the hue shifted red after 90-minute
exposures. Stroma thickness did not significantly swell until 150-minute exposures to
BAK.
Conclusions: dmOCT allows us to view the behavior of the cornea epithelium under
toxic stress due to BAK, revealing parallel swelling of the extracellular matrix and
changes in local subcellular motion.
Translational Relevance: The evaluation of the cornea epithelium using dmOCT is
helpful to our understanding of the toxic effects of BAK.
of 1 μm in all voxel dimensions, but individual epithelial cells are difficult to
resolve due to lack of scattering contrast. Adding dynamic contrast processing to mOCT
(dmOCT) results in color images that enable visualization of individual cells and possibly
give information on cellular function via the calculation of a motility coefficient.
We propose this technique as a novel method of evaluating the ocular surface after
exposure to a toxic chemical, benzalkonium chloride (BAK).
Methods: Ex vivo cross-section images were acquired with a custom-built, frequencydomain
mOCT system. Eyes were explanted from healthy adult C57BL/6 mice and
imaged every 30 minutes with five sets of dmOCT scans at each imaging time. Total
epithelium and stroma thicknesses were measured from a single mOCT B-scan, and
measures of color changes (hue) and the motility coefficientwere acquired fromdmOCT
scans.
Results: After 30-minute exposures to 0.005% BAK, local motility decreased and total
epithelium thickness increased compared to controls. For basal epithelium cells, local
motility decreased after 60-minute exposures, and the hue shifted red after 90-minute
exposures. Stroma thickness did not significantly swell until 150-minute exposures to
BAK.
Conclusions: dmOCT allows us to view the behavior of the cornea epithelium under
toxic stress due to BAK, revealing parallel swelling of the extracellular matrix and
changes in local subcellular motion.
Translational Relevance: The evaluation of the cornea epithelium using dmOCT is
helpful to our understanding of the toxic effects of BAK.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 28 |
| Journal | Translational Vision Science & Technology |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Pages (from-to) | 28-28 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| ISSN | 2164-2591 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 02.05.2022 |
Research Areas and Centers
- Academic Focus: Biomedical Engineering
DFG Research Classification Scheme
- 308-01 Optics, Quantum Optics, Atoms, Molecules, Plasmas
