Comparison between PSHG and fluorescence for the muscle damage assessment after the axotomy.

<p>Medium collateral damage. Before the axotomy: a) TPEF image of YFP marked muscles and axons; b) SHG image of the muscles in the same region. After the axotomy: c) TPEF reveals a successfully cut axon showing a gap that interrupts the continuity of the axon. No other damage is apparent; d) SHG image of the body wall muscle shows the change from SB to DB structure of the sarcomeres. PSHG analysis: c) Post-surgical pixel-resolution mapping of myosin <i>θ_SHG</i> at the muscle (color bar in degrees); d) <i>θ_SHG</i> (mean±1 standard deviation) for the muscles in the region surrounding the cut and in the control region(white squares). The control region was selected in the adjacent muscular cell far away from the axotomy. Unpaired two tailed <i>t</i>- test (n = 200 pixels for both sets) yields p<0.001 (****) meaning that <i>θ_SHG</i> mean is significantly different between the two regions. Arrows point to the place of the laser axotomy. Scale bar 10 µm.