Selective Harmonic Optical Microscopy

Abstract

SHG is an important contrast mechanism in optical examination for thick biological tissues. Fibrous proteins, such as myosin and collagen, exhibit biophotonic crystal nature and are dominant SHG harmonophores in vertebrates. Local molecule arrangements strongly affect SHG polarization behavior. Here we demonstrate to distinguish myosin-based muscle fibers from intertwined collagenous perimysium through SHG polarization selection, without complicated staining or sample/image processing required.