Streamlined Intravital Imaging Approach for Long-Term Monitoring of Epithelial Cell Dynamics on an Inverted Confocal Microscope

The study introduces a custom-designed 3D-printed microscope stage insert for inverted confocal microscopes, enabling streamlined long-term intravital imaging of epithelial cell dynamics in live transgenic mice. This innovation enhances the accessibility of intravital microscopy, traditionally limited to upright multiphoton systems, by allowing noninvasive observation of cell behaviors in intact skin tissue. The approach is significant for the cell biology community as it facilitates the study of live cell dynamics in both normal and disease contexts, potentially aiding in the development of clinical interventions for diseases like cutaneous skin carcinomas.