Measuring the activity of transporter proteins in a living organism has been a challenge for scientists, because the methods are difficult, often require the use of radioactive tracers, and are hard to use in intact tissues and organs. (sciencedaily.com)
Furthermore, the team devised a technique to control the number of neurons labeled — labeling too many neurons makes it impossible to distinguish individual ones — that allows researchers to visualize individual neuron shapes and trace their connecting fibers through intact tissues using another technology the Gradinaru laboratory has helped develop, known as tissue clearing. (sciencedaily.com)
To study biopsied intestinal samples, the research team engineered a microfluidic chamber where intact tissues can be inserted in a known orientation. (sciencedaily.com)