Invited Talk ESA-SRB-ANZBMS 2024 in conjunction with ENSA

Shining light at reproduction and development in vivo (#237)

Irina Larina 1
  1. Baylor College of Medicine, Friendswood, TEXAS, United States

The processes within the fallopian tube are highly complex and dynamic to support the reproductive function. However, our understanding of this complexity is limited by restricted imaging access to the mammalian reproductive system.  I will present a developing in vivo imaging study of reproductive events within the mouse fallopian tube using an intravital dynamic optical coherence tomography, focusing on the process of ovulation, egg/embryo movements, spermatozoa tracking, and motile cilia analysis. A novel functional method for studying cilia coordination within the fallopian tube will be introduced. The method is based on spatiotemporal mapping of the phase of ciliary beat calculated based on intensity fluctuations in OCT images. I will show unexpected findings about the physiological dynamics of eggs, sperm, and motile cilia within the fallopian tube revealed through in vivo observation, setting a platform for a variety of future investigations of normal physiological reproductive function and reproductive disorders.