In vivo imaging of hormone receptors provides the opportunity to visualize target tissues under hormonal control in live animals. Detecting longer-wavelength photons in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) region affords reduced photon scattering in tissues accompanied by lower autofluorescence, leading to higher spatial resolution at up to centimeter tissue penetration depths. Here, we report the conjugation of a small molecular NIR-II fluorophore CH1055 to a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-CH) for imaging ovaries and testes in live mice. After exposure to FSH-CH, specific NIR-II signals were found in cultured ovarian granulosa cells containing FSH receptors. Injection of FSH-CH allowed live imaging of ovarian follicles and testicular seminiferous tubules in female and male adult mice, respectively. Using prepubertal mice, NIR-II signals were detected in ovaries containing only preantral follicles. Resolving earlier controversies regarding the expression of FSH receptors in cultured osteoclasts, we detected for the first time specific FSH receptor signals in bones in vivo. The present imaging of FSH receptors in live animals using a ligand-conjugated NIR-II fluorophore with low cell toxicity and rapid clearance allows the development of non-invasive molecular imaging of diverse hormonal target cells in vivo.
[1]Stanford Univ, Sch Med, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Program Reprod & Stem Cell Biol, Stanford, CA 94305 USA.
[2]Stanford Univ, Dept Chem, Stanford, CA 94305 USA.
[3]Wuhan Univ, Hubei Prov Engn & Technol Res Ctr Fluorinated Pha, Key Lab Virol, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Wuhan 430071, Peoples R China.
[4]Stanford Univ, Dept Radiol, BioX Program, MIPS, Stanford, CA 94305 USA.
[5]Fudan Univ, Sch Basic Med Sci, Dept Integrat Med & Neurobiol, Shanghai 200032, Peoples R China.
[6]Fudan Univ, Inst Acupuncture & Moxibust, State Key Lab Med Neurobiol,Fudan Inst Integrat M, Inst Brain Sci,Brain Sci Collaborat Innovat Ctr, Shanghai 200032, Peoples R China.
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