Stable, high-resolution intravital imaging of the lung has become possible through the utilization of vacuum-stabilized imaging windows. However, this technique is extremely invasive and limited to only hours in duration. Here we describe a minimally invasive, permanently implantable window for high-resolution intravital imaging of the murine lung that allows the mouse to survive surgery, recover from anesthesia, and breathe independently. Compared to vacuum-stabilized windows, this window produces the same high-quality images without vacuum-induced artifacts; it is also less invasive, which allows imaging of the same lung tissue over a period of weeks. We further adapt the technique of microcartography for reliable relocalization of the same cells longitudinally. Using commonly employed experimental, as well as more clinically relevant, spontaneous metastasis models, we visualize all stages of metastatic seeding, including: tumor cell arrival; extravasation; growth and progression to micrometastases; as well as tumor microenvironment of metastasis function, the hallmark of hematogenous dissemination of tumor cells.

通过使用真空稳定的成像窗口，可以进行稳定，高分辨率的肺活体成像。但是，该技术具有极强的侵害性，并且持续时间仅限于数小时。在这里，我们为鼠肺的高分辨率活体成像描述了一种微创，可永久植入的窗口，该鼠标可以使小鼠在手术中幸存下来，从麻醉中恢复过来并独立呼吸。与真空稳定的窗户相比，此窗户可产生相同的高质量图像，而不会产生真空引起的伪影。它的侵入性也较小，因此可以在几周内对同一肺组织进行成像。我们进一步调整了微图技术，以可靠地在纵向上对相同细胞进行重新定位。使用常用的实验方法，以及更具临床意义的方法，自发转移模型，我们可视化转移接种的所有阶段，包括：肿瘤细胞的到达；外渗 生长和发展为微转移；以及肿瘤微环境的转移功能，是肿瘤细胞血源性扩散的标志。