Simultaneous measurement of neurite and neural body mass accumulation via quantitative phase imaging

Measurement of neuron behavior is crucial for studying neural development and evaluating the impact of potential therapies on neural regeneration. Conventional approaches to imaging neuronal behavior require labeling and do not separately quantify the growth processes that underlie neural regeneration. In this paper we demonstrate the use of quantitative phase imaging (QPI) as a label-free, quantitative measurement of neuron behavior in vitro. By combining QPI with image processing, our method separately measures the mass accumulation rates of soma and neurites. Additionally, the data provided by QPI can be used to separately measure the processes of maturation and formation of neurites. Overall, our approach has the potential to greatly simplify conventional neurite outgrowth measurements, while providing key data on the resources used to produce neurites during neural development.

Automated summary

Measurement of neuron behavior is crucial for studying neural development and evaluating potential therapies. This paper presents a label-free, quantitative method using QPI to separately measure the mass accumulation rates of soma and neurites, as well as to quantify the processes of maturation and formation of neurites. The approach simplifies conventional neurite outgrowth measurements while providing key data on resources used for neurite production during neural development.