In vivo skull optical clearing for imaging cortical neuron and vascular structure and function

Unlike traditional skull windows, such as open skull glass windows, thinned skull windows, and their variants, the in vivo skull optical clearing technique establishes a skull window without craniotomy or with minimal craniotomy, providing an access to cortical neurovascular visualization of the brain in its normal environment. This chapter gives an introduction to novel in vivo skull optical clearing technique development during the past several years. Since the optical clearing skull window was first invented, it has been continually been optimized, and great progress has been made. With the advantages of high transparency, high imaging resolution, long-term repeated observation, safety, and easy handling, current optical clearing skull windows are compatible for use with various optical imaging systems to detect cortical cell and vascular structure and function.