In the field of reproductive biology, there is a strong need for a suitable tool capable of non-destructive evaluation of oocyte viability and function. We studied the application of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) as an intra-vital exogenous contrast agent using multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) for visualization of porcine ovarian follicles. The technique provided excellent molecular sensitivity, enabling the selection of competent oocytes without disrupting the follicles. We further conducted in vitro embryo culture, molecular analysis (real-time and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) and DNA fragmentation analysis to comprehensively establish the safety of BCB-enhanced MSOT imaging in monitoring oocyte viability. Overall, the experimental results suggest that the method offers a significant advance in the use of contrast agents and molecular imaging for reproductive studies. Our technique improves the accurate prediction of ovarian reserve significantly and, once standardized for in vivo imaging, could provide an effective tool for clinical infertility management.

中文翻译：

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明亮的甲酚蓝增强光声成像能够对用于人工繁殖的哺乳动物卵巢卵泡进行无损成像

在生殖生物学领域，非常需要一种能够无损评估卵母细胞活力和功能的合适工具。我们使用多光谱光声断层扫描 (MSOT) 研究了亮甲酚蓝 (BCB) 作为活体内外源性造影剂的应用，用于观察猪卵泡。该技术提供了出色的分子敏感性，能够在不破坏卵泡的情况下选择有能力的卵母细胞。我们进一步进行了体外胚胎培养、分子分析（实时和逆转录聚合酶链反应）和 DNA 片段分析，以全面建立 BCB 增强 MSOT 成像在监测卵母细胞活力方面的安全性。总体，实验结果表明，该方法在使用造影剂和分子成像进行生殖研究方面取得了重大进展。我们的技术显着提高了对卵巢储备功能的准确预测，一旦标准化用于体内成像，就可以为临床不孕症管理提供有效的工具。