ABSTRACT
The high-resolution imaging of three-dimensional structures in biological tissues is essential for biomedical research. The development of light microscopies and various fluorescent labeling techniques provides powerful tools in his regard. However, optical imaging depth suffers from strong light attenuation due to the inherent heterogeneity of biological tissues and light absorption. Tissue optical clearing technology provides a distinct solution for deep imaging with high resolution. In recent years, various tissue optical clearing methods have emerged. This chapter will first review recent and up-to-date in vitro tissue optical clearing techniques from the perspective of the end-users based on sample features in terms of size and age, and then shows the results of a comprehensive evaluation of the performances of some typical clearing methods in various intact mouse organs. It is expected to be helpful for researchers in choosing the most suitable clearing method from a variety of protocols to meet their specific needs.
